“One of the reasons I fell in love with applied math is because it is so broad. We studied so many different topics, from fluid dynamics, to modeling viruses, to image processing, to population growth and traffic patterns. There are just so many exciting applications!
“I chose to pursue image processing and remote sensing to better understand what’s happening on our planet. It’s really about realizing the value of our resources – I grew up in South Africa where electricity and water and other necessities aren’t always guaranteed. Understanding that our resources are really finite and that we need to protect them has always been very important to me. Being involved in climate studies makes me feel like I’m doing something to actually make a difference.”
—Kerry Cawse-Nicholson, Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Image Credit: NASA / Jim Round
Interviewer: NASA / Esprit Smith