• Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2023

• Arizona State University, Astrophysics, ‘23

• Arizona State University, Graphic Design, ‘13

• Host Institution: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

• Mentor: Thomas Zurbuchen

• Brookie Mentor: TBD

Shireen Dooling is a full-time graphic designer specializing in science visual communication and infographics. She is finishing up a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics this year and, in combination with her Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, she hopes to combine both skill sets to continue exploring new methods of visual communication in relation to the space sciences. Her goal in every project is to make the abstract and hard-to-understand research more accessible to a public that may, or may not, have a scientific background. That is why she is very excited to have been selected by the Brooke Owens Fellowship to work with the visual communications and design teams at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center this summer!

Before pursuing astrophysics, Shireen spent some time in the fashion design industry. Having completed an Associates in Fashion Design and Merchandising, she was asked to participate in several small, New York Fashion Week productions, including Bronx's first fashion week show. She hopes to eventually explore a line of gowns inspired by astronomy and life in space in the near future.

Space and science have always been an inspiration to Shireen. She was a kid who thought building and launching kit rockets was the best way to spend class time and that microscopes revealed all kinds of different universes. However, looking up at that clear, dark, Arizona desert, night sky would be an inspiration for all her future interests. This deep seeded interest in space would only further be ignited in 2015 when, sitting at a mundane desk job, she tuned in to NASA's live stream release of New Horizons' image of Pluto. Seeing that crisp, clear image of that tiny planet, with a "heart", that was only a blob to her and the rest of the people on Earth, (besides those working on the mission), just seconds before; that is the peak of science and science communication. Literally revealing a world unknown. That is the work Shireen wants to be a part of, and since that day, she has been taking steps to accomplish this goal.

Shireen also dedicates time to teaching the Technology for Design class for ASU Online students in the ASU Herberger Institute Design program. In addition to helping teach the next generation of designers, she also likes to spend time creating items for her science themed Etsy shop. 30% of all profits from items sold are donated across charities that fund conservation efforts, refugee assistance, and mentorship for girls in STEM.

When Shireen's not designing for science or in a class, she is either binging Netflix, out traveling, searching for the most sour candy sold on the market, or on a porch enjoying the smell of Arizona monsoon rains.