Washington

- Dr. Tahani Amer, Executive Director of the Division of Earth Sciences at NASA, participates in the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated by the United Nations under the auspices of the Royal International Academy of Sciences (RASIT) on February 11 of each year.

8 years ago, celebrations began on this day to enhance the role of women in the field of scientific research.

Scientific summits of female researchers are periodically hosted to celebrate their scientific contributions.

Tahani, an Egyptian mechanical engineer and mother of 4 children, is considered a model for women in the fields of science.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera Net, she spoke about her scientific and humanitarian achievements as a veiled Arab Muslim woman.

Tahani Amer, an Egyptian engineer and mother of 4 children, supervises several programs at NASA (Al-Jazeera)

Uncommon but not a hindrance

The career of the Egyptian engineer opened new horizons for many girls and women, because of its clear expression that Arab and veiled women are able to achieve their scientific aspirations.

Regarding the veil, she says, "There are many Muslim workers in NASA, but I have not seen veiled women since I joined NASA. Even today, the veil is still unfamiliar in the corridors of the place."

She added, "I felt different as a woman of color and veiled, but I was not afraid of the impact of my veil when applying for job interviews. Rather, I kept in mind my religious commitment, praise be to God, because my veil is a legal obligation."

Dr. Tahani goes back to her commitment to the hijab also to the events of September 11, 2001, and says, "They told me that there are fatwas that allow removing the hijab so that we do not suffer harm. I refused and adhered to my values ​​and my relationship with God because it is my priority. Indeed, the hijab did not discourage me from anything that necessitates removing it, as some advised me."

The researcher talks about her social role, saying, "I am a person who integrates into society, and I educated my colleagues and neighbors about my religion, rituals, and creed. This open dialogue contributed to building a strong community relationship that supported me on my journey."

joining NASA

After graduating from the university, Tahani received several offers to join many institutions, including NASA, in which she participated in a training program before graduation.

She indicated that the agency's financial offer was not the best, but she chose to join because of the moral value of this entity in her heart.

The researcher and academic obtained many scholarships through her work at NASA, where she graduated from Harvard University, the Wharton Executive Education Program and Villanova University. She also obtained a master's degree in aerospace engineering and a doctorate in engineering from Old Dominion University.

She had received her basic education in Egypt.

Expert for many space agency programs

Dr. Tahani now works as a technical expert for the space agency's programs and support for the Earth Sciences Division at NASA, as well as managing the engineering project for the development of spacecraft, instruments, and ground systems.

Perhaps the most important tasks it undertakes is to conduct the first global survey of Earth's surface water with the aim of assessing freshwater resources, discovering new features of the oceans, providing more information about its surface, and measuring how water bodies change over time.

Now, Tahani is working on a very sensitive project, as she described it, related to studying the pathways of global warming and monitoring what can be done to reduce the impact of this crisis, limit climate extremism and maintain temperatures in moderation that protects the earth from the danger of global warming so that future generations can live in peace.

Dr. Tahani says that scientific research at NASA has immediate repercussions on humans, including many industrial and consumer uses, starting from surgical threads and even raw materials for the aircraft industry, to comfortable bed mattresses, and other materials of daily consumption.

Tahani Amer equation

While the international community celebrates her in the field of science, Dr. Tahani says that the secret of her success has been the balance between family, motherhood and professional advancement.

She has developed a special mathematical equation for herself based on imagining the future while not neglecting passion, having a plan and perseverance in achieving it, as well as caring for relationships.

And all of this was divided into a specific time with cooperation within a work team.

Dr. Tahani attributes her success to what she calls a "community circle of support" that included not only her and her family, but also neighbors and co-workers.

He recalled, "When my daughter was an infant, I had to transfer the house to the workplace, and I called colleagues home so that I could take care of my daughter."

She said that this was an essential support for her to continue her scientific career, at a critical time in her life as a mother, which, due to the support of her colleagues, turned into a beautiful memory.

She stressed that women should not pay attention to those who push them to be superstars in their work and home, because of the negative impact that this causes on the psyche, "rather it is better to seek help and support from their circle."


Volunteer work and community participation

Also in this context, Dr. Tahani mentions her experience in following an educational method that relies on the independence of her children and their participation in household chores, which was reflected in their personality later on.

All of this not only succeeded in supporting the Egyptian researcher at the professional level, but was also able to provide a space of time that allows her to engage in voluntary work, especially in Islamic community activities in the United States, where she volunteered as a teacher in the mosque one day a week years ago.

She said that this experience was a great addition that contributed to preserving the religious and cultural identity of her four children.

Her busy professional life did not discourage her from pursuing her children's sports career or their involvement in American society. On the contrary, she says that living in different societies contributed to enriching and strengthening her strength and the strength of her children, whose difference was a source of strength for them. Dr. Tahani always feels that her difference in Color, veil, and culture distinguish her, and her academic excellence imposes itself on those who see otherwise.