Research Areas: Comets, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Rings, Polarization of light in the Solar System
"One of the wonderful things about science is that it is open and available to anybody."
Source: AGU Narratives
Early Life
Padma grew up in India. She loved space and science even as a child. She'd look at the night sky with her parents, and her dad would tell her stories about the stars they could see. Padma wondered what other cultures might say about those same stars. Would their stories be different to the ones she heard? It made her curious about the sky above.
Not long after humans landed on the Moon, Padma wrote a letter to NASA. She asked for a signed picture of the Apollo 11 astronauts. NASA sent her back a copy! It made her even more excited to learn about science.
Her parents encouraged her in school and her studies. She graduated from Delhi University, but wanted to explore her interests further. India didn't have many programs for planetary science. So, Padma moved to America and obtained a PhD from the University of Denver. It took her a little longer than usual. She changed her topic many times because she was interested in lots of areas of science. She decided on her final topic after seeing the spacecraft Voyager's pictures of Saturn. She wanted to understand more about the planet's rings.
Padma then worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She wasn't chosen to study planetary rings like she wanted. Instead, she explored the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn in mid-infrared. The work was outside her comfort zone. But it helped further develop her skills. The experiences and challenges she overcame gave her the confidence to believe in herself.
Career Highlights
Padma is currently a Senior Research Scientist in California. She has spent her career trying to understand ice in space. She uses large telescopes around the world to collect pictures and data.
To progress in science, Padma believes people from all backgrounds and research fields must work together. She started a group called Pro-Am Collaborative Astronomy (PACA). It brings together professional scientists and amateurs to observe planets, comets, and even the movement of light waves. They worked on big projects, like watching Comet ISON. They also helped with Europe's Rosetta mission, which studied a comet up close.
Legacy
Padma has made a big difference in how space science is done. She has shown that anyone can learn more and discover new things. You don't need to work at NASA or a big lab. Even people with small telescopes can help with important space missions!
Padma helps others learn more about the solar system. She teaches and gives advice to students. She even checks over some of NASA's resources for schools. Her passion for outreach brings together people from all backgrounds and levels of experience, from keen hobbyists using telescopes in their gardens to those with a career in science. It shows that science is something everyone can be part of.
Padma believes there's never an end to exploring space. Every new thing we learn leads to more questions. Her work inspires people to keep looking up at the night sky.
Other Interests
Padma enjoys travelling to lovely places like Hawaii. At home, she spends time gardening and making her own wine. She also loves the company of her family and friends.
One of her favourite films is Star Wars. She watched it a lot growing up!