GlobalNL is excited to re-launch the interview of Bethany Downer with Greg Smyth. Bethany, a scientist-astronaut candidate from Newfoundland, was recently selected for project PoSSUM (Polar Sub-orbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) which trains the next generation of space travelers. In 2018, she was named one of the world’s Top 35 Under 35 in space. Currently, Bethany is working as the ESA/Hubble Public Information Officer to manage public outreach for the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Bethany shares her journey from Memorial University to the International Space University and her current space projects at the European Space Agency. Her primary goal is to communicate about space in a way that it can be easily understood and shared with the public.

“You may have an end goal but you would be absolutely astonished what path you take to get there because it will not be the path that you
expected or planned”