[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 154 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1873-E1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. NANCY GRACE ROMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 14, 2011

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
achievements of my constituent, Nancy Grace Roman. One of the world's 
most significant women in the history of science, Dr. Roman has 
dedicated her life to the exploration of the universe. Often called the 
``Mother of Hubble'' thanks to her efforts to make the Hubble Space 
Telescope a reality, Dr. Roman was critical to establishing the new era 
of space-based astronomical instrumentation. Recently, she was honored 
by NASA with a fellowship in her name, the Nancy Grace Roman Technology 
Fellowship in Astrophysics, which will help young researchers achieve 
scientific breakthroughs in the development of innovative technologies, 
just as Dr. Roman did decades ago. Only the fourth person recognized by 
NASA with a fellowship, she joins the ranks of Albert Einstein, Edwin 
Hubble and Carl Sagan in being so honored.
  Dr. Roman's fascination with outer space began at a young age. Her 
passion for the universe was fueled in large part by her parents. Her 
father, a geophysicist, answered her scientific questions, while her 
mother, a teacher, exposed Nancy to nature and spent nights observing 
the sky with her daughter and pointing out such astronomical phenomena 
as constellations and the aurora. Dr. Roman knew from her early 
childhood that she wanted to devote her life to astronomy, even 
organizing an astronomy club to observe the constellations with her 
friends when she was just eleven years old.
  Dr. Roman's dream of a life in science came true, as she devoted her 
career to understanding the nature of stars. Dr. Roman received a B.A. 
in astronomy from Swarthmore College in 1946 and a doctorate in 
astronomy from the University of Chicago in 1949. She then began 
working as a research associate in the radio astronomy branch of the 
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. In 1959, NASA recruited Dr. Roman to 
set up a program in space astronomy. As NASA's first chief of 
astronomy, Dr. Roman traveled across the United States, seeking to 
identify the needs of astronomers nationwide. She then established a 
committee of astronomers and NASA engineers to determine the kinds of 
satellites that were necessary and that could feasibly be engineered. 
Dr. Roman once described looking at the universe through the atmosphere 
as ``somewhat like looking through a piece of old, stained glass.'' Her 
deep passion and determination for finding newer, more efficient 
methods of astronomical exploration that would solve this problem 
inspired her to help facilitate the development of the most powerful 
and versatile instrument of its time--the Hubble Space Telescope. Her 
role in the creation of this extraordinary piece of technology led Dr. 
Roman to be affectionately known as the ``Mother of Hubble.'' Following 
her work with the Hubble Space Telescope, Dr. Roman served as Chief of 
NASA's Astronomy and Relativity Programs, the first woman ever to hold 
an executive position at NASA. There, she was involved with, among 
other things, planning numerous satellite and rocket exploration 
programs.
  In addition to having made numerous professional contributions to 
science, Dr. Roman is an inspiration to women of all ages and 
backgrounds. She grew up knowing what she wanted to do with her life 
but, as a woman of that era, she was forced to deal with a constant 
stream of disparaging comments from people around her. When Dr. Roman 
opted to take an additional year of high school mathematics instead of 
Latin, she was ridiculed by the school guidance counselor, who rejected 
the prospect of a girl choosing to pursue such a field. Her friends 
also tried to discourage her from science and mathematics, insisting 
that it was not the correct path for a woman of her generation to 
follow. Women of Dr. Roman's generation were often discouraged from 
pursuing any professional career, much less one in the sciences. 
Despite this, Dr. Roman followed her passion. She defied generational 
stereotypes, persevering to become one of the most eminent and 
influential women of her generation. Today, Dr. Roman remains an active 
member of the American Association of University Women and the River 
Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland. Since 
retiring from NASA in 1979, she spends much of her time consulting, 
teaching, and lecturing around the country and

[[Page E1874]]

continues to be a passionate advocate for science.
  Our many astronomical and astrophysical advances would not have been 
possible without the efforts of Dr. Roman. By establishing a fellowship 
in Dr. Roman's name, NASA honors her and her achievements, and ensures 
that her contributions to the scientific community will never be 
forgotten.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Dr. Nancy Grace Roman and 
in thanking her for all that she has done to advance scientific 
knowledge and our understanding of our world.

                          ____________________