Yasmin Maqbali to Voice of America: Gender, Ethnic, and Experiential Diversity is Key to Scientific Progress

Yasmin Maqbali, an Iranian-American NASA astronaut, emphasized the importance of diversity in scientific and space fields in an exclusive interview with Voice of America. Referring to her experiences at NASA, she deemed gender, ethnic, and experiential diversity essential for solving problems and advancing science. On Monday, during a Q&A session organized by the Iranian-American Women's Society in Newport Beach, California, Maqbali answered questions about her recent trip to the International Space Station, her personal experiences, and the importance of women's presence in scientific and space domains. In this conversation, Maqbali highlighted the significance of diversity at NASA, stating, "I hope that when women and girls around the world see me or people like me or our astronaut office at NASA, they realize how diverse our office is; in terms of gender, ethnicity, experience, and background. I hope people come to understand that when we live, I as a woman and you as a man, our experiences are different because of these differences, and we see issues differently. That’s why we look at problems differently and find different solutions." She added, "It took me a long time to gain confidence and speak comfortably in a room full of men. But I hope young girls see me and find that confidence sooner and present their opinions and solutions earlier. Because we need this diversity of thought and different perspectives to solve problems." Maqbali also shared her experience of seeing Earth from space, saying, "I wish everyone could see Earth the way I saw it from above. It's hard to describe, but what I saw was a beautiful, amazing, alive planet full of life that is constantly changing. From up there, you realize that nothing similar is nearby. Perhaps somewhere in this universe, there is another planet like Earth, but nothing around here resembles Earth. This is a gift given to us and a reminder to protect and care for it." She continued, "When you look at Earth this way, you remember that all humans are connected, and our commonalities are greater than our differences. I wish everyone could see Earth from up there." Yasmin Maqbali also spoke of her love for her work and her hope for a better future, adding, "I love my job and hope to continue human space exploration. I would like to experience more missions in the future, but even if that doesn't happen, I will continue this path from Earth and support other astronauts. We are working on the Artemis missions for a trip to the Moon, which prepares us for going to Mars." Maqbali expressed respect for the women of Iran, saying, "I have seen the courage and bravery of Iranian women and have great respect for their sacrifices in building a better future. I hope I can support them in any way I can." The rocket carrying the astronauts of the "Crew 7" mission successfully headed to the International Space Station in the summer of 1402 (2023). Yasmin Maqbali commanded this space mission, accompanied by astronauts from Denmark, Japan, and Russia. This mission concluded in Esfand 1402 (March 2024), and Yasmin Maqbali, along with three other astronauts from Denmark, Japan, and Russia, returned to Earth on Tuesday aboard a SpaceX spacecraft, completing a six-month mission at the International Space Station. Yasmin is from Baldwin, New York, and holds a master's degree in aerospace engineering. She also graduated with honors from the United States Navy's pilot school in Maryland and stated during her speech at this year's Nowruz ceremony at the White House, "I am proud of my Iranian heritage."