Rita Owens
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/rita-owens-keeper-of-nasas-digital-knowledge/
David Parker
- Who am I – I am a Deaf person and I use Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate. I am self managed via the NDIS and I can request for an Auslan interpreter.
- Background – By training and profession, I’m an electrical engineer but I work as a community manager / technical writer. I’ve tried over the years to learn a little about a lot of things. I sometimes envy the great people of the Renaissance especially Leonardo Da Vinci who had a very real possibility of learning a large fraction of all human knowledge. But when I think of all we have achieved since then and I know I have the better deal.
- My motto – “Karma: do good to others that others can do good to you”
- Favorite quotes- “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert Einstein. “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” — Richard Feynman “For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.” — Vincent van Gogh
- My main interests – Purple, The Phantom comics, science fiction, science, technology, road cycling, web development, digital systems, software engineering, travelling and camping, family tree research, genetics, Auslan, relaxing with quality red wine and a good movie, gardening and especially growing tulips and finally egyptology.
Johanna Lucht
Johanna was born in Germany and was discovered to be deaf at the age of 3. She graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in May 2014. She had an internship at Armstrong Flight Research Center in summer 2013 and was hired as a full-time engineer in June 2014. As an aerospace flight systems engineer, she has performed several roles such as system integration engineer for SubsoniC Research Aircraft Testbed (SCRAT) project on Gulfstream III 804 maintaining/working with the instrumentation systems and as a software developer for developing and testing the Cruise Motor Controller (CMC) software and several Graphical User Interface (GUI) test tools for the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) on X-57 Maxwell. She has supported several small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) activities. She currently works on X-59, NASA’s quiet supersonic X-plane. Her duty is to, in a nutshell, research, design, develop, code, test, maintain, evaluate, and operate aircraft systems while working with the team to solve challenges. On April 4, 2017, Johanna became the first deaf engineer to carry out an active role in a NASA control center during a crewed research flight. During her daily life she uses her sense of humor whenever possible and in her spare time she crochets, quilts, makes jewelries, plays video games, walks outdoors, bakes sweets occasionally to feed her coworkers, and hangs out with friends and family.
Amie Fornah Sankoh
Amie Fornah-Sankoh got her PhD from the University of Tennessee’s Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology. Her scientific journey began at the Rochester Institute of Technology and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), where she earned Laboratory Science Technology and Biochemistry degrees. Before joining the University of Tennessee for her Ph.D. in 2017, Amie undertook various internships and participated in multiple research projects, further solidifying her commitment to scientific exploration.
During her time at the University of Tennessee, Amie achieved significant milestones. She secured a National Institute of Health (NIH)-)-supported Fellowship for her initial two years, followed by a three-year Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation and another NIH predoctoral fellowship. Additionally, she authored four scientific publications, with more in progress, presented at a national meeting, and delivered multiple poster presentations.
Amie’s PhD thesis explored biological communication, mainly focusing on the impact of hormones on plant-pathogen interactions. Communication is fundamental to the survival of any individual or population of organisms. As a Deaf person who has never taken the ability to communicate for granted, Amie especially believes in the adage that knowledge is far more valuable when properly shared. This belief has led her to engage in several activities that have a broader impact on the scientific community. Her research brings a unique perspective, particularly significant given the limited opportunities for young Deaf individuals in STEM, underscoring the importance of diverse voices in scientific inquiry.
Amie’s life story is one of resilience, overcoming challenges from her Deafness during Sierra Leone’s civil war. She had to overcome barriers to survival, education, and language acquisition, but instead of breaking her, these experiences fueled her determination and helped her thrive. Amie’s passion for outreach drives her advocacy for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in STEM, where she endeavors to offer them hands-on laboratory experiences, serving as both a role model and a catalyst for breaking barriers.
In 2023, Amie made history as the first Deaf Black woman to earn a STEM doctorate. This milestone reflects her perseverance and achievement journey, culminating in her selection as the featured speaker for her university’s 2023 Graduate Hooding Ceremony. Her most fulfilling realization is that she can excel as a scientist and a community advocate.
Currently, Amie serves as a Senior Research Specialist at Dow Coating Materials, where she contributes to developing innovative waterborne barrier coatings for paper, enhancing functional performance, and promoting recyclability in paper-based packaging applications.
Ainsley Latour
I am a clinical genetic technologist with skills in both cyto and molecular genetics. I also work as a research consultant in the accessibility space with a focus on barriers encountered by scientists with disabilities or who are Deaf. I also train and consult with organizations around inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility as part of an organization I co-founded, IDEA-STEM. I am an Ontario trained teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. My masters is in marine evolutionary biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Dr. Erum Razvi
Dr. Erum Razvi joined Ontario Genomics in 2023. In her current role, Erum supports the implementation of strategic initiatives with the goal of applying genomics-based solutions to bolster key sectors of the Ontario economy. Erum is the main point of contact for funded projects and works with leading academics and partner organizations to advance funding, foster relationships, and enhance project outcomes.
During her 10+ years in the infectious disease space, Erum has experience in multidisciplinary areas such as drug discovery, carbohydrate chemistry, X-ray crystallography, biophysical methods, and basic biology research leading to several high impact publications. Erum served as the Communications Officer and Chair for the GlycoNet Trainee Executive Committee where she wrote monthly newsletters, led a team of 7 scientists across Canada to understand and endorse the voices of trainees to key opinion leaders, established professional development opportunities, and advocated for infectious disease research alongside the Chief Science Advisor of Canada. Prior to joining Ontario Genomics, Erum was a postdoctoral fellow working on optimizing the isolation of bacterial exopolysaccharides.
Erum has a B.Sc. in Health Science from Wilfrid Laurier University, Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario.
Space Camp Unlimited
Here at CSD Learns, we are thrilled to introduce an incredible opportunity for your Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students that we believe will truly ignite their passion for space exploration and STEM. Introducing Space Camp Unlimited, a unique program designed exclusively for middle and high school students at your school. This immersive experience […]
STEM Sign Language Summit
Hosted by Gallaudet University. We are excited to welcome everyone who is interested in STEM sign language lexicons – deaf and hard of hearing students who are majoring in STEM, STEM deaf and hard of hearing professionals, K-12 teachers, STEM college professors, interpreters, educational researchers, linguists, anthropologists, and the like! The Summit will take place […]
RIT/NTID’s Deaf in STEM Conference
RIT/NTID is excited to announce our Deaf in STEM Conference, a conference focused on deaf and hard-of-hearing experiences in STEM employment. This Deaf in STEM conference aims to bridge the gap between deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and professional and educational development in the working world. With a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, this student-led […]
Deaf Scientist Time
Have you made any plans on Thursday, September 21, 2023 yet? Guess what, let’s do some Deaf Scientist Time (DST) from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on Sept. 21, 2023! Come join us to share information, resources, and opportunities for networking with deaf and hard-of-hearing scientists online. All are welcomed and interpreting has been […]
