It's Never Too Late: Bridging the Gap Between NASA Robotics and Backyard Birding with Barbra Sobhani

Picture an autonomous rover navigating the vast, rolling terrain of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. It pauses, drills a sand core, and analyzes the sample—just like it would on the surface of Mars. It sounds purely like rocket science, but for Barbra Sobhani, it’s intimately connected to protecting life right here on Earth.When Barbra—who holds degrees in physics and geology—decided to pursue a master’s in biology, her friends were confused. But as the state director for the NASA Colorado Space Grant program, an Audubon Master Birder, and a botanical illustrator, she knows that exploring extreme environments in space is one of the best ways to understand climate resilience at home. From launching student-built atmospheric sensors to ground-truthing satellite data with community classrooms, Barbra proves that conservation and aerospace are two sides of the same coin.Tune in to hear:The Astrobiology Connection: How sending bacteria up on high-altitude weather balloons helps us understand species survival.The Art of Observation: Why drawing Darwin's finches in the Galapagos can cement your connection to a species.The Lifelong Learner: Why it's never too late to pivot your career, head back to school, and connect with a brand new community.