Scientist, Best-selling Author Visits Pearl Harbor for Science and Leadership Seminar

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey Troutman | 170410-N-ON468-025 PEARL HARBOR (April 10, 2017) Dr. Hope Jahren, a geobiologist and New York Times bestselling author, speaks to audience members during a science and leadership seminar at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration facility in Pearl Harbor. Jahren's visit was part of an open discussion on science, leadership and facing challenges in the workplace, as well as readings from her book "Lab Girl", which documents her adventures studying plant life throughout the course of her career. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeff Troutman)  

PEARL HARBOR, HI, UNITED STATES

04.10.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeffrey Troutman 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Hawaii

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Navy Region Hawaii hosted a leadership and professional development opportunity with geobiologist and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Hope Jahren at the NOAA Inouye Regional Center Auditorium at Ford Island, April 10.

The event was an open forum on science, leadership and facing challenges in the workplace, as touched upon in Jahren’s book “Lab Girl”.

“I’ve learned that the more people know about the world, the more they feel a part of the world,” said Jahren. “We’re not just scientists and service members and government employees; we’re three-dimensional individuals with our own interests and passions.”

Jahren said her experiences in her career and some of the challenges she’s faced along the way were what inspired her to write “Lab Girl”, which she referred to as a “love letter to the world around us”.

“Our passions in life, our interests and our desire to keep doing them is what drives us to be better human beings,” said Jahren. “I wrote “Lab Girl” as a way to express to others that no matter what career field we’re involved in, we can learn every day from the world around us.”

Following the event, Jahren held a question and answer session and a book-signing opportunity for those in attendance.

“Her book raises some very interesting topics, and this was a valuable opportunity to share experiences with other scientists and engineers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career fields,” said Capt. Michelle La Duca, vice commander at Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. “My hope is that hard science becomes an integral part of the Navy mission and that more of our service members become familiar with how science and the environment play a part in that mission.”

Among her numerous accolades and awards in the realm of science, Jahren has received three Fulbright Awards: in 1992 for geology work conducted in Norway, in 2003 for environmental science work conducted in Denmark, and in 2010 for arctic science work conducted in Norway. In 2001, Jahren won the Donath Medal, awarded by the Geological Society of America. In 2005, she was awarded the Macelwane Medal, becoming the first woman and fourth scientist overall to win both the Macelwane Medal and the Donath Medal. In 2016, Time Magazine listed her as one of the world’s “100 Most Influential People”. Currently, Jahren is a Wilson Professor at the University of Oslo's Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics.

For more information on Dr. Jahren and her work, visit: www.jahrenlab.com

• Date Taken: 04.10.2017
• Date Posted: 04.20.2017 15:36
• Story ID: 230919
• Location: PEARL HARBOR, HI, US
• Hometown: AUSTIN, MN, US