Catherine Asaro Path
A Meeting of Paths: Catherine Asaro
The path to a future in any field is shaped by our interests and the influences on us. Four readings in Module 2 of our course CD explore women’s paths in science: the M2 Reflection, the M2V1 reading, the M2W1 essay, and the M2V2 reading. For some women and men the path is straight, while for others it may twist and turn for decades. Some scientists see their scientific work as separate from the other aspects of their lives, while for others the different parts are closely connected. A remarkable example of desires and influences shaping a life path is Catherine Asaro—dancer, physicist, and award-winning science-fiction writer.
Asaro’s early life centered on science and dance. “I started out majoring in dance because I wanted to be a professional dancer,” she explains in an interview for Physics Central. “But I always liked science and math. Pretty soon I was primarily studying mathematics, chemistry, and mathematical physics.” She continued to dance while working on her PhD in chemical physics at Harvard. “Ballet has shaped my entire …show more content…
In the Crescent Blues interview, she addresses the challenge of attracting science fiction fans and fans of romance writing: “To write fiction that appeals to both types of readers, you have to respect both genres. Science fiction is a literature of ideas and how those ideas affect people (human or otherwise). Romance consistently looks to the better side of human nature—how people find honor, healing, and redemption through coming to love another human being.” Her writing links up naturally with her support of girls and women in STEM fields. In an undated interview in Physics Central, she comments, “I'm very lucky to be able to combine the subjects and issues I love into my writing. I don't think there's anything else I'd rather
The path to a future in any field is shaped by our interests and the influences on us. Four readings in Module 2 of our course CD explore women’s paths in science: the M2 Reflection, the M2V1 reading, the M2W1 essay, and the M2V2 reading. For some women and men the path is straight, while for others it may twist and turn for decades. Some scientists see their scientific work as separate from the other aspects of their lives, while for others the different parts are closely connected. A remarkable example of desires and influences shaping a life path is Catherine Asaro—dancer, physicist, and award-winning science-fiction writer.
Asaro’s early life centered on science and dance. “I started out majoring in dance because I wanted to be a professional dancer,” she explains in an interview for Physics Central. “But I always liked science and math. Pretty soon I was primarily studying mathematics, chemistry, and mathematical physics.” She continued to dance while working on her PhD in chemical physics at Harvard. “Ballet has shaped my entire …show more content…
In the Crescent Blues interview, she addresses the challenge of attracting science fiction fans and fans of romance writing: “To write fiction that appeals to both types of readers, you have to respect both genres. Science fiction is a literature of ideas and how those ideas affect people (human or otherwise). Romance consistently looks to the better side of human nature—how people find honor, healing, and redemption through coming to love another human being.” Her writing links up naturally with her support of girls and women in STEM fields. In an undated interview in Physics Central, she comments, “I'm very lucky to be able to combine the subjects and issues I love into my writing. I don't think there's anything else I'd rather