Exploring Space: A Conversation With Astronaut Ellen Ochoa

Women have long played a vital, yet often underrecognized, role in science. Despite meaningful progress, gender disparities persist worldwide, shaped by institutional barriers, cultural expectations, and unequal access to education, research opportunities, and leadership roles.

As part of the Joni Sue Lane Lecture Series, this event will feature Ellen Ochoa, a pioneering astronaut and engineer whose career reflects both the challenges and possibilities for women in science. Ochoa became the 11th director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 2013, the first Hispanic and second woman to lead the center, and flew four space shuttle missions as the first Hispanic woman in space. Drawing on her experience across research, spaceflight, and leadership, Ochoa will reflect on the evolving role of women in science, the barriers that remain, and the importance of expanding access and representation for future generations.

The Joni Sue Lane Lecture Series aims to recognize and amplify the vital contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It's named in honor of Joni Lane, a talented systems programmer who worked at the Federal Aviation Agency and at Rice University in the early days of computing. The series, funded by the Lane Family Endowment, focuses on highlighting women in science and technology and issues they face. It is a part of the Baker Institute Civic Scientist Lecture Series, which is sponsored by Virginia Clark with additional support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng and Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Wiess School of Natural Sciences. This event is a collaboration with Rice’s Space Institute.

This event is free and open to the public.