Episode 10: Nicky Fox - Trailblazer of Trans-disciplinary at NASA
Nicky Fox has pioneered the study of the space around us and our sun, and now she focuses on unifying all of NASA's science divisions and, in general, empowering everyone she meets.
How apt that we recorded this episode at the Goddard Space Flight Center, the spot of the Director of NASA’s Heliophysics Science Division, Dr. Nicky Fox’s, FIRST experience and beginning of a long storied trajectory with NASA, to record an episode of Origins.
The word inspiring is thrown around a bit carelessly, in my opinion, so it is with the utmost respect for the term that I say that Nicky Fox is an inspiration. Her life has grown from studies of physics and telecommunications and satellite engineering at the Imperial College in London and the University of Surrey to an intimidatingly productive career at NASA.
Nicky has pioneered the study of Heliophysics, serving roles, among many others, as the operations scientist for the Polar mission, Science and Operations coordinator for the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative, Deputy Project Scientist for the Van Allen Probes mission, and the project scientist for the wonderful Parker Solar Probe mission.
She has now moved to NASA Headquarters where, as the Director of the entire Heliophysics Science Division, she leads the administration's efforts for discovery of our interactions with the Sun.
Nicky is one of the most eloquent, impactful, and fun inaugurators of ideas that space physics has known. I’m delighted to be sitting in this place, an epicenter of curiosity, and an integral piece in so many profound lives, with Dr. Nicky Fox.
Show Notes:
NASA Polar mission, Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative, Van Allen Probes mission, and the Parker Solar Probe mission (01:05)
NASA Heliophysics Division (01:20)
Nicky at South by Southwest (03:20)
Nicky on the TEDx stage (03:35)
Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle (04:35)
WISPR camera on Parker Solar Probe (04:50)
Solar energy effects on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Signals) (06:50)
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) (07:35)
Idea of assessing your presentations from the questions you receive - what didn’t work (08:25)
Power of ‘I don’t know’ (08:50)
Develop comfort with not knowing the answer (12:00)
Importance of the ‘counter question’ (e.g., ask questions to discover) (12:20)
What it means to work for NASA (13:50)
Goddard Space Flight Center (15:50)
Culture of curiosity at NASA (16:20)
Being terrified that you’re not good enough and the ‘imposter syndrome’ (16:45)
Work-life balance struggle (17:40)
Overcoming the challenge of feeling pulled in many directions (20:00)
Her mentors:
Mario Ocuña (27:50)
Bob Hoffman (28:05)
Barry Mauk (29:30 and 39:40)
Diversity in teams (28:45)
Applied Physics Lab (APL) (29:20)
Living With a Star initiative (29:20)
What is Space Weather? (30:45 and 39:00)
‘Transdisciplinary’ in science (31:15)
Heliospheric System Observatory and diversity of thought (33:25)
How do you break down disciplinary boundaries and build new transdisciplinary communities? (35:10)
What is Heliophysics? (32:20)
What does it mean to be a Heliophysicist? (32:40)
IMAP mission (32:40)
Norbert Weiner “fruitful areas for growth in no man’s land between the various established fields” (36:40)
MIT Media Lab and Joi Ito - antidisciplinary (36:40)
NASA’s Next Generation Principal Investigator (37:40)
NASA PI incubator program (37:50)
Learning from your mentors (40:00)
How to build your network and surround yourself with the right people (42:40)
Make sure people are equipped and give them the confidence to do things (44:20)
Forms of empowerment (45:40)
Learning how to rely on other people (46:50)
NASA ethos of togetherness and openness (50:20)
Lightning Round:
Book: Hidden Figures (51:45)
Passion outside of career: Public speaking (53:50)
What is making your heart sing? Uniting Heliophysics Division (55:00)
Screwed up: first college degree (56:00)
Find Nicky online:
'Five-Cut Fridays’ music series