Women have long played a vital, yet often underrecognized, role in science. Despite meaningful progress, gender disparities persist worldwide, shaped by institutional barriers, cultural expectations, and unequal access to education, research opportunities, and leadership roles.
As part of the Joni Sue Lane Lecture Series, this event will feature Ellen Ochoa, a pioneering astronaut and engineer whose career reflects both the challenges and possibilities for women in science. Ochoa became the 11th director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 2013, the first Hispanic and second woman to lead the center, and flew four space shuttle missions as the first Hispanic woman in space. Drawing on her experience across research, spaceflight, and leadership, Ochoa will reflect on the evolving role of women in science, the barriers that remain, and the importance of expanding access and representation for future generations.
The Joni Sue Lane Lecture Series aims to recognize and amplify the vital contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It's named in honor of Joni Lane, a talented systems programmer who worked at the Federal Aviation Agency and at Rice University in the early days of computing. The series, funded by the Lane Family Endowment, focuses on highlighting women in science and technology and issues they face. It is a part of the Baker Institute Civic Scientist Lecture Series, which is sponsored by Virginia Clark with additional support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng and Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Wiess School of Natural Sciences. This event is a collaboration with Rice’s Space Institute.
This event is free and open to the public.
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Agenda
5:30 pm CDT — Reception
6:00 pm CDT — Welcome Remarks
6:05 pm CDT — Introduction
6:25 pm CDT — Featured Speaker Remarks
7:00 pm CDT — Audience Q&A
7:30 pm CDT — Adjourn
Participants
Featured Speaker
Ellen Ochoa was the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, from 2013 until her retirement in May 2018. She became the first Latina to go to space when she flew on a nine-day mission aboard the shuttle Discovery in 1993. She has flown in space four times, logging nearly 1,000 hours. She currently serves on several boards, continues outreach through speaking engagements and bilingual children’s books, and previously served as Chair of the National Science Board. Prior to her astronaut career, Dr. Ochoa was a research engineer and holds three patents for optical systems. She received a B.S. in Physics from San Diego State University, and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. She is honored to have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and to have eight schools named for her. She has been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, the California Hall of Fame, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, the Government Hall of Fame, and the National Academy of Engineering.
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