At the age of 14, she stepped into the offices at MIT’s campus and sought approval for the single engine plane she had built from scrap
20 Januari 2016 15:09
Brilio.net/en - Most 14-year old girls are worried about the color of their eye shadow. Or perhaps the boy that wont text them back. But not Sabrina Pasterski. At the age of 14, the budding genius stepped into the offices at MITs campus and sought approval for the single engine plane she had built from scrap in her fathers garage and already flown solo. I couldnt believe it, recalls Peggy Udden, an executive secretary at MIT, not only because she was so young, but a girl. That was just the start for the wide of the wide-eyed teen.
Eight years later the first generation Cuban-American is an MIT graduate and a candidate for her PhD at Harvard University. Her research has shifted from aircrafts to physics, with a focus in the nature of gravity, space-time and black holes. Particularly she is trying to better understand quantum gravity, which seeks to explain the phenomenon of gravity within the context of quantum mechanics. For Pasterski, physics is elegant and full of utility, a refreshing view from a fresh young mind.
Pasterski isnt the average millennial. She has never had an alcoholic drink, smoked a cigarette and doesnt spend much time looking for a boyfriend. Id rather stay alert, and hopefully Im known for what I do and not what I dont do, said Paterski on an email punctuated with smiley faces and exclamation marks. You wont find the only child on popular social media either. She doesnt have accounts on Facebook, Instagram or even LinkedIn. But who needs a job-networking site when Jeff Bazos, the founder of Amazon offered her a job whenever shes ready. Asked if his offer stands, Bazos responded with a cheery God, yes! NASA is also allegedly recruiting the young woman.
Her website, much like the simple name PhysicsGirl implies, is a no-frills list of her achievements. She has won numerous Fellowships and Grants, published in multiple notable publications and held several talks.
Her mentors predict much fame in her future, equating her to the Einstein and Newton of our generation. But the 22-year old stays grounded. She is aware of the often harsh and seemingly unrewarding reality of working in the science fields but doesnt let it deter her from pursing her goals. Its not like a 9-to-5 thing. When youre tired you sleep, and when youre not, you do physics.
(Reported by: Ivana Lucic)
