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Dr Kathryn Sullivan has spent most of her life exploring the world’s frontiers, from the ocean depths to outer space.
The scientist and explorer credits much of her success to her father, an aerospace engineer, who encouraged her to pursue "things technical". At 13, she began flying and just 14 years later, she was chosen as one of the first six women to train as astronauts in the United States. In the interim, she gained a degree in earth sciences and a doctorate in geology.
Sullivan is a veteran of three NASA space shuttle missions: In 1984 she became the first American woman to walk in space during a Challenger flight; she helped launch the Hubble Space Telescope aboard Discovery in 1990; and served as a payload commander aboard Atlantis in 1992.
After 15 years with NASA, she was appointed chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where she oversaw varied research and technology programmes. Education is a high priority for Dr Sullivan, who helped design the educational programme for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.
Her ability to "educate, inspire and lead" won her the post of president and chief executive officer of COSI, the Center for Science and Industry, a dynamic hands-on learning centre in Columbus, Ohio. In this position, Sullivan, a much-decorated commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, hopes to inspire a new generation of explorers. |
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