Today, we sit down with Dr. Caoimhe Rooney, a research scientist at NASA whose areas of expertise include mathematical modelling of complex engineering systems, planetary science, public communication and mission design. She has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022.
Listen in as Dr. Rooney discusses how participating in Oxford’s Industrially Focused Mathematical Modelling program paved the way for a career in applied mathematics at NASA. She speaks on the delicate balance between performing technical analysis and accepting uncertainty in the field of exoplanet characterisation.
Dr. Rooney also talks about the goals of mathematical modelling at NASA and how she typically goes about collecting and applying data in her work. She shares her uniquely challenging experience as the only mathematician on a team of physicists, alongside having to navigate a considerable time difference.
Finally, Dr. Rooney speaks on her future goals as well as her initiative to get more women into the field of mathematics via the Mathematigals platform.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
● [02:43] Why Dr. Rooney chose space
● [07:42] About Dr. Rooney’s PhD thesis
● [12:50] Applying mathematical modelling to planetary science
● [17:10] Factoring clouds into mathematical models
● [21:52] The goals of mathematical modelling at NASA
● [27:50] How Dr. Rooney collects data
● [31:11] Being the only mathematician on a team of physicists
● [34:57] About Mathematigals
● [38:46] Dr. Rooney’s goals for the future of her career
Key Quotes by Dr. Caoimhe Rooney:
● Something that you might not be able to physically touch or put your hands on will still be underpinned by some sort of mathematical equation. There is always a way that you can take something physical and put it on paper in the form of equations and physics principles.
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