Norah Patten

✨ Introducing our awesome woman of the week, Dr. Norah Patten! ✨

Dr. Norah Patten is an Irish aeronautical engineer and an award-winning STEM advocate from Ballina, Ireland. She is currently in training for space travel, which will make her the first Irish person (of any gender) in space.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Norah first visited NASA in Cleveland, Ohio when she was eleven years old, and the visit ignited her fascination with space. She would go on to study Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Limerick and in 2011, she received her doctorate in Aerodynamics. She completed work placements at both Boeing and Bell Labs, two of the largest aerospace research and manufacturing companies in the world.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In 2014, Norah managed a project called “The Only Way is Up,” which sent Ireland’s first student experiment to the International Space Station. Eventually, she became a global faculty member at the International Space University.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In 2017, she was selected as one of 12 participants from around the world to take part in Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere, obviously), which is designed to teach candidates the skills required to effectively conduct research on the next generation of space vehicles.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Norah has also founded her own company, Planet Zebunar, a program created to bring space exploration to children in hopes of connecting kids to engaging them with STEM projects early in their lives. Her mission is to build an inclusive community of STEM enthusiasts of all genders.

Make sure you're following us on Instagram at @feminist.doodles to meet a new awesome woman every Wednesday (that's why we call it Awesome Women Wednesdays)! 🌈