Monsi Roman

Monsi Roman, NASA Centennial Challenges Program Manager, discusses the agency’s flagship prizes and competition program.

Roman's fascination with science and living organisms blossomed when she was a child. Her science teachers nurtured her curiosity, encouraged her to participate in science fairs, and provided opportunities for her to work with real scientists. Roman carries on that tradition, helping with classes at NASA's Challenger Learning Centers and at the agency's Educator Resources Center in Huntsville.

Where there are humans, there are microorganisms. So the question for Roman was, what kind of organisms could safely exist in the water and on the station. It led to a wide array of tests: different kinds of materials, humidity levels and temperatures. They even experimented with tactics like vacuuming out floating food particles using air filters.