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a16z Podcast | From Hidden Figure to Sonic BOOM
28 segments available
An aerospace engineer who worked for NASA for over 40 years, Dr. Christine Darden is one of the mathematicians that the book and movie Hidden Figures was based on. Darden eventually would lead the sonic boom team, going on to become the first African-American woman in senior management at NASA. In this intimate conversation with a16z’s general partner Jeff Jordan, held at the SF Jazz Center, Darden shares with Jordan how she first fell in love with geometry and math; the effect that Sputnik had on our culture (and her); and what it was like to work at NASA in the 1960s. And finally, Darden shares with us all the secrets of the sonic boom.
Segments Timeline
The Impact of Sputnik
Dr. Christine Darden reflects on how the launch of Sputnik in 1957 galvanized American students, including herself, to pursue STEM education. She shares her memories of the fear and excitement that surrounded this pivotal moment in history, highlighting its influence on her educational choices and the broader cultural shift towards science and technology.
"hi and welcome to the a 16z podcast today's episode is based on an event with dr. Christine Darden one of the mathematicians hidden figures was based on in conversation with general partner Jeff Jorda..."
Falling in Love with Geometry
Darden discusses her passion for geometry, sparked by an inspiring teacher. She explains how this love for mathematics guided her educational path away from biological sciences and towards a career in math and physical sciences, ultimately leading her to NASA.
"Sputnik it was at 1957 yes I was a senior in high school when Sputnik went up and my job at high school was to get the collective morning newspaper and put it on the spindle in the library and I remem..."
Navigating Career Choices
In this segment, Darden shares her journey from aspiring teacher to aerospace engineer. She recounts her father's advice to secure a teaching certificate and how her career took a turn when she discovered opportunities at NASA, leading to her eventual role in research.
"when you studied in college well not necessarily the Sputnik I I happen to have a geometry teacher that just made me fall in love with geometry and math and so that sort of sealed the deal that I want..."
Entering NASA: A New World
Darden describes her initial experiences at NASA, highlighting the gender dynamics and the lack of women in technical roles. She reflects on the predominantly male environment and the challenges she faced as an African-American woman in a field where women were often relegated to support roles.
"actually went back to school I taught for three years and I had gotten married and everything and my husband got a fellowship to go to to school to get a masters and I said well I need to get a job up..."
Challenging the Status Quo
Darden recounts her determination to move into engineering roles at NASA. She shares a pivotal conversation with a higher-level supervisor about the disparity in opportunities for men and women, which ultimately led to her promotion and a shift in her career trajectory.
"should have come earlier NASA was here recruiting yesterday and I said I said I didn't even know about it she says well I tell you what you fill out the application and bring it back to me and I'll se..."
Understanding Sonic Booms
In this segment, Darden introduces the concept of sonic booms, using a balloon analogy to explain the physics behind them. She describes how supersonic flight creates shockwaves and the implications of these phenomena for both aviation and the environment.
"with women right okay yeah and I said it like that because as I was there longer and you began to see the young engineers come in who had been in school with women in engineering their attitude was en..."
The Legacy of Supersonic Flight
Darden discusses the historical context of supersonic flight in the U.S., including the challenges faced during flight tests in the 1960s. She explains the consequences of sonic booms on communities and the eventual legislative restrictions on commercial supersonic flights over land, as well as the development of the Concorde.
"get the sequence of events right you find yourself a couple years in there's some changes at NASA and you overhear that you might be subject to a riff a downsizing that is correct and that riff this w..."
The Concorde and Supersonic Flight Challenges
In this segment, Darden discusses the Concorde and its operational limitations due to laws against supersonic flight over land. She highlights the challenges faced by the U.S. in developing a supersonic passenger plane and the economic factors that influenced its viability.
"and Boeing had to lay off a lot of engineers because they had hired up engineers to build a supersonic transport the English and French built theirs and it was called the Concorde the Russians built t..."
Designing for Minimal Sonic Boom
Darden explains her work on designing airplanes to minimize sonic booms. She describes the mathematical equations and computer simulations used to create designs that would reduce the impact of sonic booms on the ground, emphasizing the importance of public acceptance of noise levels.
"because the very high drag and the perfect the airplane was burning up lots of gas and doing that trip so so that is true the United States was not the only one that had the laws against supersonic fl..."
Wind Tunnel Testing and Design Validation
This segment covers Darden's experience with wind tunnel testing of sonic boom designs. She details the process of measuring pressure differences and validating the theoretical models, showcasing the rigorous testing involved in developing quieter supersonic aircraft.
"were working on when I got put on sonic boom work and so one of your first assignments was to take an well known equation and we had a system of equations this paper was he gave several governing equa..."
Collaborative Research and Development
Darden discusses her collaborative efforts with military and research institutions to test modified aircraft for sonic boom research. She shares insights into the teamwork and innovative approaches taken to measure and analyze sonic boom signatures.
"until we got them very close together we said this is about as close as we can get it can a hand drawing that and then we took the design to the model makers and they built us five inch steel models t..."
Public Perception and Sonic Boom Research
In this segment, Darden explains how public perception influenced sonic boom research. She describes initiatives to gauge community reactions to sonic booms and the importance of understanding atmospheric effects on sound propagation.
"work I spent about 20 years working on that 20 years working and you progress throughout the in in the group you've progressed well we did we actually had we actually had a funding cut out during one ..."
Women in Aerospace: Progress and Challenges
Darden reflects on her nearly 40-year career at NASA, discussing the evolution of gender representation in the aerospace field. She highlights the increasing presence of women in engineering roles and the challenges they faced, including management dynamics and workplace culture.
"that what did the atmosphere due to the sonic well the turbulence you could see you could see that you had more scatter in the signal but you could still see the effects of the shaping that we had in ..."
Balancing Career and Family
Dr. Darden opens up about the challenges of balancing her demanding career at NASA with family life. She shares personal anecdotes about considering quitting her job after the birth of her child and the support she received from her mother, emphasizing the importance of childcare and family commitments.
"areas of the center about that yes we do we do which is fantastic you've had a very successful career you also have children grandchildren great-grandchildren how did you address the balance thing dur..."
Impact of 'Hidden Figures'
Darden discusses the cultural impact of the book and movie 'Hidden Figures,' emphasizing how it highlights the significant contributions of black women in STEM. She reflects on the importance of representation and role models for young people, particularly in inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science and engineering.
"schools or anything until I went to his headquarters so um the the the movie in the book hidden figures seems to have it's gotten a lot of praise but it seems a struck a chord and galvanize people why..."
Lessons from Katherine Johnson
In this segment, Darden shares her experiences with Katherine Johnson, a fellow mathematician at NASA. She highlights Johnson's graciousness and the importance of mentorship, illustrating how the success of earlier black female mathematicians paved the way for future generations in aerospace.
"important lesson but smooth when computers were coming that's right computers are coming in they're gonna replace these human computers who are very much slower so she says I think you better learn ho..."
Advocating for Your Career
Darden offers valuable advice on career advocacy, stressing the importance of communicating one's interests and aspirations within an organization. She shares her own experiences of seeking opportunities for advancement and the necessity of performing well in one's current role to gain support for career transitions.
"do we [Music] for you personally was there a moment when you felt like you no longer had to prove yourself well I always felt like I had to do my job and do it well sure yes so so I don't remember thi..."
The Importance of Education
Dr. Darden emphasizes the critical role of education in career success, particularly in STEM fields. She discusses the need for students to pursue math and science courses to enhance their job prospects and fill the growing demand for engineers in the workforce.
"like to do yep deliver you were you were friends with Katherine Johnson actually you you were classmates with her it was calculating the orbital reentry competing with the computers what lessons did y..."
Curiosity as a Driving Force
In this reflective segment, Darden discusses the importance of curiosity in personal and professional growth. She encourages young people to maintain their curiosity and highlights a quote from the movie 'Hidden Figures' that underscores the value of continuous learning and being valuable to others.
"got hired was because these folks had shown that we yes we do do the job and we do it well it hired any advance yes just recognize there's been a strong movement to focus more on science and math or s..."
Role Models and Mentorship
Darden shares her journey of finding inspiration from family, teachers, and supervisors throughout her life. She discusses the significance of mentorship and the impact of positive role models in shaping her career, encouraging others to listen to wise advice and support the next generation.
"was something that would you your parents stress my parents stressed that they didn't have to talk about it yes I had four sisters and brothers who had been what did they greet you at home with what w..."
Mentoring the Next Generation
Dr. Darden shares a personal story about mentoring a young intern at NASA. She recounts giving her advice on how to take initiative and seek out opportunities, which ultimately led to a positive impact on the intern's experience. This segment highlights the importance of mentorship in fostering the next generation of engineers.
"I actually had a young intern at NASA one summer who had gotten put into a shop area and she came she said they showed me all the equipment and then you know I've seen it all and out now I'm just kind..."
Future of Space Exploration
Darden expresses her hopes for the future of space exploration, emphasizing the need for humanity to return to space and learn how to maneuver effectively. She draws parallels between past achievements, like the moon landing, and the potential for future missions to Mars or asteroids, suggesting that such goals can unite and inspire society.
"walk down that hall and just kind of look at the reports and see if you see one that interests you and read it and then go to the author and say that I just read your report and I'm really interested ..."
The Role of Technology in Space
In this segment, Dr. Darden discusses the evolution of technology in the aerospace industry and the emergence of new space companies. She highlights the importance of innovation and collaboration in achieving significant milestones in space exploration, reflecting on how these advancements can shape the future.
"most in wildest most interesting thing that you think will come next or hope will come next er well I want to see us get back into space and to actually learn how to maneuver in space I think that's v..."
Navigating Challenges in Leadership
Darden addresses the challenges she faced as a woman of color in a leadership position at NASA. She shares her strategies for managing diverse teams and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of fairness and understanding in fostering a collaborative work environment.
"get it done we have been getting inundated with company space companies looking to do different you know different execution with that I would love to open it up for questions we have mics at both end..."
Progress and Challenges for Women in Tech
Reflecting on the progress made for women and people of color in technology, Dr. Darden discusses the advancements in representation and the ongoing challenges that remain. She highlights the need for continued efforts to increase diversity in leadership roles within the tech industry.
"terms of managing people with different backgrounds than you and managing men like how did you navigate what I'm sure was a lot of resistance and what strategies with would you have for that and then ..."
Favorite Physics Equations
In this segment, Dr. Darden shares her favorite physics equation, the Navier-Stokes equations, which govern aerodynamics. She explains their complexity and significance in aeronautics, showcasing her deep understanding of the mathematical principles that underpin her work.
"let that bother me and so I basically pretty much got along with the people that I worked with let's say the second question was that's how far have we come well of course as you get women women white..."
Sonic Boom Research and Development
Darden discusses the challenges and developments in sonic boom research at NASA. She explains the need for funding and the complexities involved in designing a supersonic airplane that minimizes sonic boom effects, highlighting the ongoing efforts to innovate in this area.
"still have don't have very many there so there's plenty of room for us to come further I just wanted to ask you the favorite physics equation or math theorem maybe an algorithm physics equation physic..."
Innovative Solutions for Sonic Boom
In this concluding segment, Dr. Darden talks about various innovative approaches to mitigating the effects of sonic booms. She reflects on the consensus that design modifications are more effective than other methods, emphasizing the importance of engineering solutions in aerospace.
"were simplified before we got the huge computers that we could solve them with numerically hi thanks for sharing with everybody you're very inspiring person I have a few questions about your research ..."