Social Impact can encompass a wide range of ideas and projects that positively affect the communities we live in.
We are delighted to showcase various Fulbright alumni working with art, music, science,
and public health projects that are contributing to a better world.

 

A series by Leslie Kutsenkow (Fulbright Intern, Summer 2023)

 

Fulbright alumna and educator of Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR), Brenda Lopez Silva, has recently joined the Earth Information Center (EIC) at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) headquarters in Washington DC helping people understand the world through visualization. The Earth Information Center is part physical space and part virtual experience, which shows how NASA data can improve lives in the face of disasters, environmental challenges, and our changing world. EIC’s vision is to showcase the Earth changing to people so they can see the earth as NASA sees it. The data provided to researchers and others from the NASA earth monitoring satellites can help us understand the rising level of sea level, air quality, wildfires, greenhouse gases, energy, and agriculture.

 

(Brenda Lopez Silva at NASA Earth Information Center in Washington DC. 2023)

(NASA Earth Information Center in Washington DC. 2023)

 

“My role at the EIC involves leveraging the resources of Earth-related missions. By presenting scientific visualizations, including data-driven simulations and immersive experiences, we aim to enhance science education and engagement. By integrating these visualizations into large-scale displays, virtual reality, and augmented reality, we can create immersive and engaging experiences that ignite curiosity and deepen understanding, making complex information more accessible and understandable for learners. By developing inclusive learning strategies, we aim to make science accessible to individuals of diverse backgrounds. Providing the right tools, data, and information empowers individuals to explore, understand, and make informed decisions based on scientific data. Collaborating with local educational institutions and implementing community outreach programs, we work towards promoting lifelong learning and ensuring that scientific knowledge is accessible to all in our community.”

 

Watch this video to see more about the installation for the public at the Earth Information Center at NASA.

(NASA Earth Information Center in Washington DC. 2023)

 

Brenda’s passion for knowledge and teaching has been evident throughout her career, including while in Lisbon for her Fulbright Experience. Before joining NASA, Brenda taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Virtual Reality and Advanced Virtual Reality at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Art and Technology Studies. She also was the Director of the Realization Lab (R&D) at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

However, her teaching is not limited to higher education. While at Argonne National Laboratory in the summer of 2021, Brenda helped teach high school students AI at a summer camp. After being introduced to the broader concepts of AI and machine learning, students worked in groups to analyze AI-generated data sets using some of the same tools that scientists use… Like using Spotify data and models to learn how to identify a music genre, then how to catalog and recognize bird songs: ​“We asked them to think about how a human might approach the task, and then how a computer might approach the same task. Spoiler alert: The computer basically learns what a human teaches it. That opened the door to some interesting discussions about how ethics might factor into AI today and in the future.”.

Brenda also helped organize the first STEM event at the Earth Information Center this summer (2023). She stated that, “the highlight of the event was the captivating showcase on the hyper wall, focusing on Climate Vitals – a vital topic in today’s world… Together, we played a significant role in promoting STEM education and raising awareness about the challenges we face in addressing climate change. Let’s continue to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, and climate advocates!”.

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We interviewed Brenda about her Fulbright Scholar experience in Lisbon and how her work at NASA’s Earth Information Center impacts people by visualizing complex scientific data.

1. How have your experiences from your Fulbright fellowship in Portugal influenced your work since returning to the United States?

Since my return to the United States, my Fulbright fellowship in Portugal has significantly influenced my work at the Earth Information Center (EIC) for NASA. It has enhanced my cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity, enabling me to collaborate effectively with colleagues from diverse areas of expertise. Teaching XR at the School of Communication and Media Studies in Lisbon sharpened my teaching and communication skills, allowing me to simplify complex concepts and effectively convey scientific information. The experience also fostered innovation and adaptability, encouraging me to explore new technologies and seek creative solutions.

Above all, the Fulbright scholarship inspired and motivated me to make a meaningful impact in my role, driving my passion for education, technology, and scientific communication.

I am immensely grateful for my Fulbright fellowship at The Polytechnical Institute of Lisbon’s transformative impact on my work at the EIC. The experience has given me invaluable cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity, enabling me to forge strong collaborations with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Teaching XR in Lisbon has honed my teaching and communication skills and instilled a deep appreciation for the power of education and knowledge transfer. Moreover, the fellowship has sparked a spirit of innovation and adaptability, propelling me to explore new technologies and embrace creative approaches. I am eternally grateful for the inspiration and motivation the Fulbright scholarship has ignited, driving my unwavering passion for education, technology, and scientific communication in my current role at NASA.

2. What challenges do you currently face in accessing or learning sciences today in your community?

In our community, the challenges we face in learning technologies today revolve around the complexity of sharing knowledge with individuals of all ages and educational backgrounds and ensuring its accessibility. Making science accessible to everyone requires simplifying complex concepts, using visual aids, and offering educational materials in various formats. Additionally, presenting reliable and up-to-date data and contextual explanations is crucial for helping people make informed decisions based on scientific information. Promoting lifelong learning and embracing a culture of continuous education is also vital in fostering scientific literacy in our community. By providing inclusive learning strategies, tools, and resources, we can inspire curiosity, enable informed decision-making, and deepen our understanding of our planet and its scientific principles.

3. What would it be if you could have one impact on American society and culture now and in the future?

If I could have one impact on society and culture now and in the future, it would empower individuals to make informed decisions based on knowledge, particularly in combating climate change. By equipping people with access to Earth data from various NASA missions, we can provide them with valuable insights and information to understand the impact of human activities on our planet. This understanding can drive more effective and informed decision-making processes, leading to sustainable practices and proactive measures to mitigate climate change.

Through the EIC, with its rich repository of Earth data and resources, I aim to promote the widespread use and understanding of this data. By leveraging tools such as geographic information systems (GIS), we can present the Earth data in a visually compelling and accessible manner.

Ultimately, my goal would be to foster a cultural shift where society values and prioritizes evidence-based decision-making rooted in scientific knowledge. I am working collectively towards a more sustainable and resilient future by empowering individuals with the tools and information to understand the complex interplay between human activities and the environment.

My Fulbright fellowship in Portugal has profoundly influenced my work at the Earth Information Center at NASA, shaping my cross-cultural understanding, teaching and communication skills, innovation mindset, and motivation to create positive change through science, education, and technology.

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Brenda has a Master of Fine Arts in “Electronic Visualization” from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Bachelor of Arts in “Graphic Design and Communication” from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in México, and a post-baccalaureate degree in “Hypermedia” from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in México. She taught and researched VR technology in March 2022 as a Fulbright Scholar in Communication & Media Studies at Polytechnic Institute Lisbon, School of Communication and Media Studies, Lisbon.

Brenda is a senior staff member at the University of Illinois at Chicago Learning Sciences Research Institute, where she led the Realization Lab for researching, designing, and implementing learning technologies and learning materials for formal and informal educational settings. Brenda was also an Independent Contractor at Argonne National Laboratory to research, prototype, and implement interactive applications, such as designing and developing XR environments and digital content. She also implemented outreach content in Artificial Intelligence summer camps.

Brenda is also a faculty member in the Department of “Art and Technology Studies” at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she has taught Virtual Reality, the topics of modeling, animation, interaction, and audio components for the integration of real-time immersive environments.

“Brenda has produced several technology-based projects that have been exhibited at the Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, the Adler Planetarium and Museum of Astronomy, the SciTech Hands-On Museum, and the Alameda Art Laboratory in Mexico City. She has also been a guest researcher at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, where she conducted research on augmented reality and the impacts of embodied interactions on learning processes and physical efforts in children. She has published and presented her work at several international conferences and art festivals.”

 

You can see Brenda’s portfolio, research, and publications on her website. And make sure to visit the Earth Information Center at NASA if you are ever in Washington DC.

Thank you, Brenda, for your dedication in pursuing Science and educating all ages of diverse backgrounds!

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Since you are here, read “My Fulbright Experience” too, a series focused on the Fulbrighters’ testimonies about their Fulbright programs in the US and in Portugal!

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