define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true);{"id":96,"date":"2008-08-18T17:52:03","date_gmt":"2008-08-19T00:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.perfectscienceprojects.com\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2008-12-21T09:22:29","modified_gmt":"2008-12-21T17:22:29","slug":"about-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.superchargedsciencefairprojects.com\/?page_id=96","title":{"rendered":"About Me"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mechanical Engineer, Rocket Scientist, University Instructor, Airplane Pilot, Astronomer…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi! I am Aurora Lipper, and I welcome you to my web site. My work evolved as an expression of a value I am committed to in my life and want to offer others: envisioning, empowering, and taking massive action.<\/p>\n

I attended Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (with a minor in Mathematics and senior project in Rocket Science) in June 1996. While in California, I received a Air Force sponsorship, based on my academic background, to pursuer further studies in a Master’s program with Edward Air Force Base in Dryden, California. I was also a student pilot and shortly thereafter received my private pilot license.<\/p>\n

In June 1997, I completed a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly State University, with a thesis in flow patterns of F-15 engines and with 4.0 GPA and was awarded Graduation with Distinction.<\/p>\n

In Fall 1997, I became one of the youngest instructors in the engineering department at Cal Poly State University, where I taught lectures in Statics, Dynamics, Engineering Systems, and labs in Fluid Mechanics, Vibrations, and Engineering Design.<\/p>\n

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When teaching at the university, I noticed a few things… One of the big things that hit me was how bored the engineering students were!\u00c2\u00a0 And I couldn’t figure out why. <\/em>I loved what I was working while I was at NASA (working on rockets and jet engines). So why didn’t the kids seem to have the same excitement? I decided to investigate further, and I looked into how kids are taught before they reached college.<\/p>\n

When I saw how kids were being taught science in high school, and especially elementary school, I realized that I’d be bored, too! That’s when I decided to do something about it. But what could I do? At first, I had no idea, so I continued along my career track to becoming a university professor. I began doctorate studies at Stanford University in the High Temperature Gas Dynamics Lab (Combustion) and spent my free time at the local children’s museum in the San Francisco Bay Area. I spent my free time (small as it was) traveling to elementary schools giving science talks to kids.<\/p>\n

Teaching elementary schools about supersonic combustion did not seem like a good idea at first. But after awhile, I realized how much physical science was really needed in all levels of schools (in private, public, and homeschool environments).\u00c2\u00a0 But once the word got out that a real <\/em>engineer was teaching at a school, well… I had to hire 12 additional staff to handle the requests!<\/p>\n

I have now taken the opportunity to have a wider range of students, as we travel across the country giving talks and workshops to kids everywhere.\u00c2\u00a0 By 2008, we have worked with over 30,000 kids through our science programs.<\/p>\n