This is the second in a series of Friday posts leading up to TWC’s Shapley Lecturer presentations being given on Thursday through Saturday, October 1-3. Our Shapley Lecturer’s presentation topic is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. See TWC’s webpage for more information and to register. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched on August 30, 2026, and is speeding on its way to its final orbit. The telescope is named in honor of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman. She was born in 1925 and showed an interest in science and math at an early age. Her curiosity about astronomy was sparked by her mother who took her out at night to view the constellations and northern lights. Between the 5 th and 6 th grade she gathered her friends into an astronomy club to study the constellations, and by the time she was in the 7 th grade, she decided she was going to be an astronomer. She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in astronomy from Swarthmore College in 1946 and her doctorate in astronomy from the University of Chicago in 1949. As a woman astronomer Dr. Roman faced many challenges throughout her career. Many discouraged her from going into astronomy- she was told women should not, could not, be scientists. And after achieving her PhD and working in the field she struggled with its male dominance and the roles perceived as appropriate for women. After graduating from Chicago, Dr. Roman stayed on as a postdoc and eventually became an assistant professor – the first woman on the University of Chicago’s astronomy faculty. She spent six years in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Yerkes Observatory. Her research, including observations of the star AG Draconis, helped launch her groundbreaking career. Her work began an era of understanding the structure of the Milky Way and it laid the foundation for the field of galactic and dynamical evolution. But despite the significance of her research Dr. Roman faced sexism and wage inequality. And she knew that because she was a woman, she would never receive tenure at the university. So, in 1954 she left academia and moved to the Naval Research Laboratory to work in the new field of radio astronomy. While there she became head of the microwave spectroscopy section. During this time astronomers had to build their own equipment. Here she learned to see as an engineer and gained an understanding of instrumentation – experience that would be necessary in her next job. In 1959 Dr. Roman learned about a job opening at a brand-new agency called NASA. She applied for the job and became NASA’s first female executive and first Chief of Astronomy and Relativity. Her job was to manage astronomy-related programs and grants. And during her time there she oversaw the launch of multiple orbiting observatories. But the one that made her legendary was the Hubble Space Telescope. Dr. Roman was a born leader. She brought together astronomers and engineers to design a telescope that delivered on the science the astronomers wanted, and the NASA engineers could build. She worked with NASA officials to approve the project and with congressional leaders to approve the funding. Dr. Roman was involved in every crucial decision concerning Hubble from where it would be built to the size of its instruments. She had unwavering commitment to the Hubble mission. It was this tenacity that led to her nickname “Mother of Hubble.” Her work was foundational in establishing NASA’s program of space-based astronomical observatories. Of NASA, Dr Roman said she found the environment there welcoming and that she felt accepted as a scientist in her job. “Í felt that the team treated me as one of the team without a problem.” Dr. Roman retired from NASA in 1979. But she never stopped working. She spent her time consulting, teaching, and she never stopped advocating for women entering the sciences. When announcing the name of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope NASA said, “It is therefore with great pleasure that we dedicate NASA's next major space observatory tasked with increasing our understanding of dark energy, the universe, and our place in it, to Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, the pioneer of modern space-based astronomy who made such telescopes a reality.” Whether you're a lifelong astronomy enthusiast, a student exploring a future in STEM, an educator, or simply someone who has ever looked up and wondered what's out there, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. Find details for the Shapley Lecture and register to join us. Written by Robin Gill, Astronomy Education Specialist