How did you become a scientist?

The speaker shares their lifelong passion for science, inspired by science fiction and a curiosity about everyday phenomena. Despite a lack of female scientist role models, they pursued answers to their questions. They encourage young scientists to be bold and think big, drawing from their own experiences in the field of astronomy, particularly in discovering exoplanets. The speaker's career was shaped by a combination of preparation and luck, leading to exciting work in the search for planets around other stars.

What type of scientist did the speaker initially want to become?

• Astronomer

• Physicist

• Chemist

• Biologist

What advice does the speaker give to young people entering the field of science?

• Follow traditional paths

• Avoid taking risks

• Be bold and think big

• Focus on small, achievable goals

What significant discovery is mentioned by the speaker?

• The first human genome sequence

• The first evidence of dark matter

• The first planets orbiting other stars

• The first black hole

What field of study did the speaker prepare for in graduate school?

• Geology

• Spectroscopy

• Astrophysics

• Biochemistry

Who did the speaker work with as a postdoc?

• Carl Sagan

• Jeff Marcy

• Stephen Hawking

• Neil deGrasse Tyson