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The concert was a great success. ón but we didn’t have the technology to do it now with the James Webb Telescope we will be able to look for signs of life in other planets and that’s really exciting

Welcome Dr. Begonia Viva

I’m excited to welcome Dr. Begonia Viva, an astrophysicist and the lead systems engineer for two of the instruments on the James Webb Telescope. She was also the deputy lead for operations during the commissioning of all of the Webb instruments after launch.

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Let me welcome Dr. Begonia Viva!

Q: Tell us about your educational journey. Were you always interested in space and how did you get to where you are?

A: Well, I grew up in Spain and we lived outside a big city so the skies were very dark. I remember when I was little I was fascinated about the changing on the sky at night - the different stars, the constellations, and even during the day - the Sun and then the moon faces. I didn’t know there was a career such as astrophysics that I could do, so then I did my studies and I was a good student and then I started in physics and followed my PhD in that field and then progressed from there.

Q: Were there particular teachers or courses that you really enjoyed or were influential for you?

A: Yes, for sure. I loved all the topics - I think I still do - obviously I love physics and math, but I also love history and lots of other things. In those days in Spain, I was going to a Catholic school and they were all girls, and the teachers were all women, but I do remember my physics teacher - she was not a nan, but she was a woman and she was attractive and she was very good at physics. So I think that helped me a little bit to know that being a woman or being a girl you can combine both things. Later on, once I started on the higher degrees, where it was a mixed class with boys and girls, there was also my physics teacher was really good. I think that’s so important when we have these teachers or these people in our lives that are good at what they do and explain things well, and we relate to. I think there’s such a good encouragement to keep us going on the path we want to pursue. So definitely, I have had good support throughout, which is very lucky.

Q: Give us your Quick Pitch about the James Webb Telescope. What makes it unique?

A: The James Webb Telescope is the biggest, largest telescope we have launched into space up to now, and I think it’s unique in two ways. It’s unique on the engineering part and is unique on the science. On the engineering part, the scientists wanted a telescope that could look back in time to the first galaxies and stars that form in the universe and see how they changed to become the planet and galaxy where we live. Also, they wanted to keep looking for life as we know it in other planets. With the James Webb Telescope, we will be able to look for signs of life in other planets, and that’s really exciting.