“Astronaut Abby” will join Microsoft and NASA at an event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on March 2. The event will be focused on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities accessible to all. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station, including Jessica Meir, will join via a live In-Flight Education Downlink to share their experiences of working and living in space, and to answer questions from attendees. The downlink for the event will be live streamed online for public viewing. Microsoft and NASA are hosting this event in response to the anticipated 9 million STEM jobs that will be created by 2022, and the desire to see women and minorities accessing those jobs.

The event will kick off Microsoft’s In Culture campaign to honor International Women’s Day on March 8th, and throughout Women’s History Month by recognizing women who are overcoming obstacles and breaking boundaries—with the goal of encouraging young women and girls to pursue their goals without giving up. Harrison, known online as Astronaut Abby, is a leader in STEM who inspires the future by encouraging people of all backgrounds to pursue big dreams.

“Women and people of color are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers and in the pathways that lead to those careers,” says Harrison. “I fiercely believe that we will close that gap, and I am thrilled to be a part of the movement that will do it. Giving young people access to people like astronaut Jessica Meir and the information that she’ll share during this event, can help keep their minds open to the possibilities of what they can do themselves.”

Microsoft is sponsoring Harrison’s attendance at the event as she is known for using her leadership and widespread global influence to increase focus on space exploration as vital to the future of humankind. She has also been vocal about the need for people of all backgrounds to have a seat at the table, and advocates tirelessly for the importance of diverse perspectives being represented in STEM and beyond. ◊