Meet One of NASA's Pioneering Women

In 1967, Christine Darden was added to the pool of "human computers" who wrote complex programs and tediously crunched numbers for engineers at NASA's Langley Research Center. But Darden wanted to do more than process the data - she wanted to create it. After wading through daily calculations for eight years, Darden approached her supervisor to ask why men with the same educational background as her (a master of science in applied mathematics) were being hired as engineers. Impressed by her skills, her supervisor transferred her to the engineering section, where she was one of few female aerospace engineers at NASA Langley during that time. Her first assignment was to write a computer program for sonic boom. That program launched a 25-year career of working sonic boom minimization.

[@nro337]

"No one has asked me that question before"... really highlights the importance of speaking up!

[@HH-ow7tz]

No, it's not the employees' fault -- that's the boss's fault -- it's the BOSS's job to promote smart employees and fire incompetent managers

[@RogerSmith-ee4zi]

It's getting the idea on the table for someone to think in a non-traditional manner, where otherwise it would not have even occured to do such thing

[@edwo_o2483]

Hidden figures really covered the story back in the 60's in an educational way. Coincidentally i watched the movie yesterday and lol i see this video today. Great movie btw. -Ed

[@tereedwards6053]

Dr. Darden, thank you for continuing to share your story. You have always been such an inspiration and a wonderful woman. Thank you for always being such a wonderful example.

[@jokerace8227]

Christine questioned the status quo, and rightly so. Her contributions to advancing aerospace technologies is good stuff, and should inspire. 🖖😎👍

[@Mike_M_Smith]

Joker Ace took them three weeks to get around to her promotion.

[@arghadeepsaha8598]

Quanta Magazine is doing an excellent job to bring science not only to the enthusiasts but also the people from the fringe. This video is so interesting and so amazing content. I feel proud to be on board and I hope this journey reaches to a billion.

[@chessknight4415]

Inspirational!

[@Nox.INkRecords]

Brilliant topic to cover 👍🏻😎

[@andrespereydaresearch]

As a quantum engineering major, I've always wanted a math major girlfriend.

[@celvine1352]

This comment section didn't pass the vibe check.

[@maxd3783]

Males be like that

[@jasonhaven7170]

they never do

[@gligoradrian784]

Yet here we are doing simple math but suddenly we forget the carry. and then the number. and then we proceed using a calculator.

[@danielcastro1303]

Inspiring story! I wish I had half the courage of Christine Darden.

[@natashaval]

She is an inspirational women!

[@stevelarry154]

courageous

[@rongeetbanerjee5205]

Perceive Plan Prepare Persist.😊Thank You Ma'am.

[@aadarshktofficial]

Four P's - Perceive, Plan, Prepare, Persist.

[@maxwellsimoes238]

Opportunity make anybody great people educated go ahead

[@FabricioLucianoCastillo]

What a wonderful story of resilience over gender inequality.

[@maxnotwell7853]

What inequality?

[@hilbert_curve3680]

@@maxnotwell7853 Gender inequality

[@Mike_M_Smith]

Fabricio Luciano Castillo a lot of racism in NASA

[@maxd3783]

@@maxnotwell7853 what she faced

[@sayyamzahid7312]

..

[@arthmendhe999]

First

[@gligoradrian784]

Not quite.

[@arthmendhe999]

i had the second view btw

[@hebrewwolf6540]

"Meet One of NASA's Pioneering wohyman" why should that matter?

[@magicalmagicmagician5223]

It shouldn't. most actual scientist couldn't give less a shit if you got a thing between your legs or not As long as you're smart the people saying this type of shit are doing it for the clicks nothing more

[@maxinator2002]

Why are y’all so bothered by highlighting the incredible work of previously unrecognized people? We have always highlighted the excellent work male scientists have done, which is great. That is why it does matter to highlight the fact that she is a member of a previously overlooked group (women in STEM) as a background for the incredible work she has done. I really don’t quite understand your objections.

[@magicalmagicmagician5223]

@@maxinator2002 I'm complaining about the title I'm glad this woman is getting recognition

[@hebrewwolf6540]

@@magicalmagicmagician5223 Absolutely.

[@Ravstar999]

Because historically there were huge obstacles to women entering science and academia, and being a woman was an integral part of the story of those who did enter our fields. That cultural heritage doesn't evaporate overnight. If your grandfather and father are more likely to be scientists its more likely that boys will go into science than girls. So now there's a huge cultural push to reverse historical disadvantages

[@carnsoaks1]

thank you, an enjoyable video. ? in this day and age, is it appropriate for women to admit that they might be scientists? There's a growing movement of distrust towards scientists, that I'd prefer women could avoid. Drop mic, minimise the satire BOOM

[@jasonhaven7170]

ew cringe

[@Kabodanki]

are we getting all into identity politics ?

[@XOPOIIIO]

Please, stay away from politics. It has nothing to do with science. Talk about achievements, and people who made them, not about their physiology.

[@zakuro8532]

I don't think this video touches on the subject of politics but rather it wants to inspire young female engineers to be bold in their male dominated environment. There are more male than female engineers.

[@XOPOIIIO]

@@zakuro8532 You can inspire people without focusing on their biology. The fact that there are more males probably has natural explanations and has nothing to do with lack of inspiration.

[@SlightlyAsync]

@@XOPOIIIO I think her case as she presented it to the director is very clear. She was assigned a lower position for no good reason. Natural inclinations had nothing to do with it. Just this week I've seen girls being discouraged from education because of their gender. So I see no problem with some inspirational efforts focusing on gender to combat existing discrimination.

[@XOPOIIIO]

​@@SlightlyAsync There is such thing as a gender role. Some work is better done by women, some is better done by men. It's not a stereotype based on traditions, but rather it's our biology. There are exceptions, and she is one. But nobody knew she was different until she revealed it, that is why she got promotion as soon as she asked for. Hard science is very hard for women, that is why they've probably been discuraged. It's probably has nothing to do with discrimintion. For example you can ask any yt channel, focused on science, technology, programming, economics, engeniering and general curiosity about the world, not more than 10% of subscribers are women, usually 5-7%. That is not because they were discriminated against subscribing, but rather because they are naturally not interested in such things. I'm completely for rights equality, because still there are those 5-7%. But I don't think you need to encourage people to do science not because it is interesting to them, but because they have to prove something.

[@XOPOIIIO]

​@Severus Snape I don't know, that is a mistery to me. Because intellectually they are not different, but still less inclined to do technical things. And it's not the only difference. They are also less inclined to violate laws, for example. Do you know that police in US kills ten times more male than female? It doesn't mean police is sexist or hate men and discriminate against them, it is rather connected to male biology, they are more violent on average

[@GamingDemiurge]

I could not care less

[@why7387]

ok Demi

[@maxinator2002]

Then why did you click on the video? Also, what could you possibly have against this? It highlights the inspiring story of a female scientist persevering and rising to her goals in a male-dominated world.

[@maxd3783]

@@why7387 then go away demi

[@colors6692]

All the White women who did the same work are being completely overlooked!