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Who is
this diva?
Christine Peterson believes in a future where tiny robots—called “nanobots”--will be able to do everything from curing diseases such as AIDS to cleaning up the environment. Working with the institute she co-founded, her goal is simple: bring this technology to people quickly and safely. She writes and lectures on nanotechnology (the science of nanobots) and tries to make this complex field understandable to everyone.
What
do you do at work?
I’m the President of a non-profit
organization that educates the public about nanotechnology.
Maybe I should describe what exactly nanotechnology is.
Lots of people use the word to mean anything smaller than
100 nanometers, where a nanometer is one billionth of
a meter. But the most interesting type of nanotechnology
is the long-term meaning--the creation of tiny machines
that are much, much smaller than the head of a pin, even
much smaller than a cell. These tiny machines could be
used to build anything we can build today and much more,
such as materials so strong that we could have inexpensive
spacecraft and robotic surgeons so small they could repair
broken molecules in our bodies.
At Foresight Institute, we work to educate people about
what nanotechnology is, what is happening now in the field
and what the future possibilities are for this technology.
Every day at work is a combination of jobs for me. I manage
my staff, do fundraising, create educational materials,
coordinate media requests, write reports, talk to potential
donors and work with people who want to invest in nanotechnology
companies.
For example, I may need to find a nanotechnology researcher
for a television or newspaper reporter to interview. Then
I may have to write something for our Web site (http://www.foresight.org).
Then I might talk to a potential donor or someone who
wants to invest in companies that are creating nanotechnology.
Then I might spend some time reading the latest articles
about nanotechnology to keep up with what others are doing
in the field. After that, I may answer some e-mail from
people who want to know more about nanotechnology.
Every day is different, which I really enjoy..
How does your job help other people?
At the Foresight Institute, we work to help nanotechnology
happen sooner rather than later, and we want the technology
to evolve safely. Nanotechnology will make huge strides
in medicine possible. It will help cure diseases such
as cancer, AIDS and maybe even the common cold, which
is surprisingly hard to prevent. Diseases such as SARS
that could kill large numbers of people could be wiped
out. That means that people will live longer, maybe much,
much longer.
Nanotechnology can also improve the environment by getting
rid of pollution in the air and water. In fact, nanotechnology
could help Earth's environment and improve the quality
of air, water and food for every person on the planet.
Do you work alone or with
a team?
I work with my own small staff
as well as volunteers, researchers, communications professionals
and investors. We work collaboratively on our Web site,
policy papers, government testimony, tech support, media
relations and conference planning.
In fact, every year, we work to put together a technical
conference on nanotechnology. We organize the whole thing
with just my staff of five, some volunteers and a wide
variety of researchers.
What's
the best part of your job?
I love putting people together
who really need to meet. For example, someone at UCLA
wanted to meet a member of Congress who was interested
in nanotechnology. I knew the right person, and I put
them together. I try to match people together in order
to help nanotechnology move forward. I match audiences
with speakers, policymakers with advisors, researchers
with start-up companies, start-up companies with investors
and local members with other members nearby.
In addition to this kind of matchmaking, I like to give
lectures. I even got to testify for Congress this past
spring.
My job is totally fun, and I love it.
What's
the worst part of your job?
I don't think that I'm good at managing
people. I don't like to correct them when they go off
track. That's my least favorite part of the job.
Where
do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I see myself doing
pretty much the same thing I do now. Except, I'd like
to do more of the fun things in my job such as writing,
lecturing and working with the media. And I'd like to
do less fundraising and management. Well before ten years
from now, I'd like to hire other people to do those things.
What
do you do when you're not at work?
I don't have children, and I'm
not married currently. However, I have a great relationship
with my Mom. We work out almost every day together at
a women's health club. For fun, I take really great vacations.
On my last trip, I went snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands.
I also read a great deal and hike in the hills. Lately,
I've also been dating.
What advice would you give
a girl about the I.T. field?
I would advise girls going into any field to take as much
math and science as they can. If you can do all the math
and science things as well as the communications and humanities
things, the whole wide world is open to you.
Women with good math and science skills can go anywhere
and do anything in the world. Those skills would be useful
in any technology career, and in fact, in any career.
I also advise girls interested in Science or Technology
to get into a lab in the field they like best as soon
as possible. Even if girls are just cleaning test tubes
at first or writing simple computer programs, they will
learn much more about science and technology in a lab
than they can just by reading books.
In addition, girls should be familiar with information
technology tools. They should create their own Web pages
and their own blogs. To get ready for nanotechnology,
play with molecular modeling and math software. These
kinds of technologies will be their tools for the future,
and they need to know how to use them.
What
were your hobbies when you were 11-14?
I used to read a lot when I was 11 to 14, but I also participated
in Math Contests at local colleges. I was also into square
dancing, and I got involved in organizing my school's
yearbook, as well.
Describe technology you
wish was available now.
I wish that we already had medical
nanobots--nano-sized robots--that could repair the human
body at the molecular level. When we finally get them,
they will be able to cure diseases including aging.
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