NASA Honors BAER Institute Scientists

Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Susan Kulawik, and SARP Program Manager, Dr. Emily Schaller, are the recipients of 2019 NASA Honor Awards for Exceptional Public Achievement and Exceptional Public Service, respectively.

Dr. Kulawik, a researcher in the Atmospheric Science Branch within NASA Ames’ Earth Science Division, is recognized for her exceptional achievement in atmospheric remote sensing. Kulawik specializes in trace gas estimates from satellite observations, particularly in sensitivity and error characterization of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.  This award was for the development of algorithms and code to analyze information from many different earth-observing satellites, in collaboration with other scientists at JPL.  JPL’s Deputy Director, Larry D. James, acknowledged the impact and importance of this achievement that has “enabl[ed] the development of new atmospheric composition products and algorithmic advances across the NASA mission.”

Schaller, a member of the National Suborbital Research Center (NSRC), which is an integral part of BAER, is recognized for her tireless support and guidance over the last nine years of NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP).  SARP is an eight-week summer internship program for rising senior undergraduate students to acquire hands-on research experience in all aspects of a scientific campaign using one or more NASA Airborne Science Program flying science laboratories. (NASA Aircraft used for SARP have included the DC-8, P-3B, C-23, UC-12B, and ER-2). Schaller recruits and selects senior undergraduate students from across the U.S. and is a continual presence during all phases of the 8-week internship, including arranging logistics, coordinating airborne research and laboratory facilities, and selecting program mentors.  At the end of the internship, students give presentations to NASA program managers and university faculty members. Many of these presentations are later given at prestigious conferences such as that held annually by the American Geophysical Union. A large segment of SARP’s alumni have gone on to pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields. Schaller also promotes the science of many NASA airborne science missions to K-12 students and educators through the NASA Mission Tools Suite for Education. To date, she has facilitated the direct connections of over 500 classrooms and 17,000 students to airborne science missions in-flight. Schaller has shown great dedication in encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Congratulations to these outstanding employees!