Jasmine Singh, or as known by her Twitter handle, AstroJaz, is a planetary and atmospheric scientist who graduated from Purdue University this year. She is incredibly sprightly about the cosmos and shares her love for it on social media! She has 70k+ followers on Twitter and is a notable figure in Science Communication. We are so glad to have gotten insights into the inside world of being a science influencer!
There’s always this small turning point, a childhood spark, that starts one’s passion! When did you know that space was your forte?
So for me, there’s no one specific point in my childhood. When I was 10, I learned about space in my science class. I was really fascinated by the planets and every time I got the chance, I would go out and stargaze. This got the snowball rolling in me. My parents noticed that I had a big interest in this, and they weren’t going to stop me from pursuing this.
It just started with my teacher talking to us about galaxies and then I just knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life!
Did you have any role models growing up?
Yeah, I would say Carl Sagan is a big one– I still look up to him! Growing up I wish I had more female role models but now that I’m older, I know a lot of women who are really inspiring. Because of social media, I find amazing people every day! I’ve been following Dr. Sian Proctor from the Inspiration 4 mission and I’m really impressed by her work!
A lot of students in our school are into STEM, especially engineering and physics, and many of them apply to US universities. Could you tell us more about the Planetary science program at Purdue?
The Purdue planetary science program is super new. Students and faculty came together to make it happen because there was quite an interest in this field. I just graduated in May, and I have to say, with the addition of new classes and tweaks in the curriculum, Purdue Planetary Science has changed to keep up with its growth. You can comfortably accommodate all your classes in the program. This is important as Planetary Science is an interdisciplinary field where those who opt usually double major.
What are some tips for applying at Purdue?
In your application, show that you’re really interested. They’re not too competitive in Planetary Science, but having good math and science scores sure does help. The courses are a bit rigorous, but don’t give up! I’d recommend group studying and asking your professors doubts. Most astronauts in the USA have come from our university…that’s to show that Purdue is doing something right!
Working at NASA is like the epitome of a space enthusiast’s dream, and you’ve done an internship there! How was the experience?
I did the internship in the summer of 2021, so unfortunately because of COVID, I could do the internship only virtually. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a nice experience. I interned at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the people over there did all they could to make the internship immersive and connect with fellow interns and mentors. We still keep in touch through Discord!
What did you work on?
I’m sure you guys are familiar with climate models. We have them for Earth mainly but also for other planets. I worked specifically on two climate models. One of them was the ModelE which was for the Earth. I worked on the Emulator– which is a simplified climate model. I had two mentors who had already written up most of the code. My fellow intern and I edited the code, to make it run smoother. The other one I worked on, which is closer to my heart, is Rocke 3D, because that one is for the atmosphere of exoplanets!
Did you meet any astronauts or revered scientists?
We did! We had video calls every week or so with different people who lectured about various science topics. We could virtually visit many NASA centers like JPL and Ames. They had astronauts and highly accomplished scientists giving talks, and we could ask questions and interact! The highlight was that they told us that they started off as interns too, which was really heartwarming and motivating to hear!
For all the astrophiles out there, we need your tips and recommendations!! What are some cool space-related magazines or websites you’d recommend?
The websites that I use would be Space.com and UniverseToday. The guy who runs UniverseToday follows me, which is amazing! Both of them are updated frequently and are scientifically accurate! The Planetary Society, founded by Carl Sagan is another big one!
You get a monthly magazine if you become a member. The NASA websites are of course indispensable for planetary research.
What message would you like to give to the space lovers out there who want to boldly go where no one has gone before?
I always say this, and even though it might sound cliche, there is a lot of truth to it. Don’t give up. If I have to recount my journey so far, I have faced multiple failures and setbacks and if I had given up– I wouldn’t be sitting here in this interview! I have gotten bad grades, felt bad, and questioned whether I belong in this field. It’s sad that many have self-doubt, especially women and women of color. I promise you, you do, all of you do belong in this field.
It’s just that you have to keep persevering (like the Mars rover!) and keep putting the work in! It’s going to be worth it one day!
Thank you for sharing your experiences in astronomy! We’re sure that it will motivate many more people to get into science!
Written by Maitreyi & Nithika
Co-Heads of Insights
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