Gloria Hovde
Expedition Role: Team Logistics
Affiliation: NASA Ames/SETI Institute
Who am I and what do I do
I am Research
Assistant for Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, Principal
Science Lead for the Licancabur Team Expedition.
I'm employed by the SETI Institute and
feel very privileged to be part of this
exciting project.
Expedition role
My main
responsibility is to manage the logistics
for the trip.
This means making sure everyone going
up to Licancabur has transportation,
a place
to stay and enough food to eat. I work
with our Chilean colleagues to ensure
all of the science equipment arrives
on time
and support Dr. Cabrol and her team
with whatever is needed.
What made you study
science?
I have
always
been fascinated
by astronomy and the search for
life on other planets. Most of my career
though has been in aviation. Seven
years ago
I
completed a major and very exciting,
life change. After working 18 years
as an airline
mechanic for United Air Lines,
I
discovered my life's calling and enrolled
in the
Master of Science program in Space
Studies at
the University of North Dakota.
This mid-life detour led to NASA and eventually
to my
current position working on the
Licancabur
Expedition team. I've supported
other projects at NASA including a Telerobotics
course
over the Internet and the 1999
Marsokhod
Rover Field Experiment in the Silverlake
area near Baker, California.
Family,
hobbies, interests, etc.
My partner Anne
is a mortgage
underwriter
and learning to play the saxophone.
We both love animals and have
two dogs and
four cats. I'm also part of
a very close community of friends who
have been like
an extended family for over
30 years. I
love to work out at the gym,
jog, ride my bike and hike in scenic
places. Music and movies are
also a very
important
part of my life. The greatest
joy however, is
being with people I care about,
sharing laughter, good food
and conversation.
Parting words for students
and teachers
There is no
single course
in life, but many
paths that connect in unforeseen,
and amazing
ways. Be open to what your
path offers and appreciate
all that
life has
given you. |
