News Brief: Adventures of women in science

Videos feature women who lead and inspire at PNNL

March 30, 2017

• Eric Francavilla, PNNL, (509) 372-4066

RICHLAND, Wash. - When salmon journey down the Columbia River or molecules rearrange to become renewable fuel, you can count on research teams at D.O.E.'s Pacific Northwest National Lab to follow. At the center of many of these teams are women-scientists and engineers who chase mystery and replace it with discoveries. In honor of Women's History Month, 4 scientists at PNNL share their stories in a video series called Women in Research:

• Alison Colotelo, an ecology scientist, studies how hydropower dams affect salmon and other migratory fish.
• Nicole Nichols, a data scientist, studies how to find answers hidden in complex data-like identifying cancer cells in images or locating whales by the sound they make. Nicole has a doctorate in electrical engineering.
• Molly O'Hagan, a catalysis scientist, studies natural enzymes to learn how to make better synthetic catalysts that convert renewable energy into fuels such as hydrogen.
• Kathe Todd-Brown, a soil scientist, studies how soil produces carbon dioxide-and how to model that cycle on a global scale. Kathe has a doctorate in Earth systems science and is a Linus Pauling Postdoctoral Fellow.

The researchers talk about their journey becoming who they are today. They give advice on finding allies and mentors; overcoming failure and adversity; and balancing career and family. You can find the Women in Research video series on PNNL's YouTube channel.

Tags: Energy, Environment, Fundamental Science, Computational Science, National Security, Renewable Energy, Hydropower, Green Energy, Climate Science, Catalysis, Fish, Data Analytics

Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Lab address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,400 staff and has an yearly budget of nearly $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the D.O.E.'s Office of Science. As the single biggest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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