NASA's Sandra Cauffman: "Studying space helps us understand impacts on Earth" financial aid

Sandra Cauffman, deputy director of NASA's Earth Science Division, has given an online session on her professional career, invited by the group Women for Science and Technology of the University of Navarra.

The speaker -who has been working at NASAfor more than 30 years-explained to the attendees the importance of space exploration in order to understand where we are and to get to know planet Earth better: "The study of other worlds can teach us about our own".

Cauffman, who has led the NASA Climate Change project , stressed the importance of certain satellites for the study of the Earth, and to understand some phenomena such as atmospheric composition, carbon cycle and ecosystems, climate variability and change, water cycle and energy, among others. In this sense, he has insisted on the importance of studying space to know the Earth better and to be able to take preventive measures for its protection. "We only have one Earth and we have to protect it and we do not protect it. We know that there are many changes and impacts to which we contribute: climate change, forest fires, rising sea levels, intensification of hurricanes."

The Costa Rican told of the innovation efforts made at NASA, and how space missions are planned and prepared. In this line, she highlighted the social impact of the investments made in the different trips to space, in terms of technological advances such as the improvement of existing communication infrastructures, the generation of high-precision instruments in medicine, or the creation of water purification devices that are already being used in the third world. 

In this sense, the NASA engineer and physicist highlighted the need to increase the scientificknowledge to be able to address the problems facing humanity and stressed the importance of men and women continuing to choose careers in science. "Human progress is in the exploration of space with a look at the world as a global system."

Sandra Cauffman has made a review of the personal and professional difficulties she has faced throughout her degree program and has pointed out the importance of taking the reins of life and the companions along the way, identifying dreams and persevering in the constant work despite the obstacles that human beings face throughout their lives.