11 minutes does not make an astronaut role model. Where is the grit? Where is the persistence? Where is the SCIENCE? An Instagram moment does not make an astronaut!

Role models matter. Increasing the number of women in science, technology, engineering, and math is important for our future health, happiness, and safety. Having a diverse workforce is proven to yield better outcomes, including higher income, more impactful solutions, and increased creativity. And research indicates that role models are crucial in engaging and inspiring girls to pursue STEM pathways (see PBS SciGirls Role Model Strategies for references and strategies).

I have worked for the past 24 years advancing gender equity in STEM, supporting many aspiring astronauts, NASA engineers, and rocket scientists. Who do I want exploring space and advancing space science and engineering that will translate to innovations for our daily lives?

It’s people like Astronaut Sally Ride, PhD physicist with a degree in English, who became the first American woman in space in 1983.

It’s people like Astronaut Mae Jamison, a chemical engineer, African American Studies degree holder, medical doctor, and Peace Corps officer, who became the first African American woman in space in 1992.

It’s people like Astronaut Stephanie Wilson (MS Aerospace Engineering, UT Austin, 1992) and Astronaut Karen Nyberg (MS and PhD Mechanical Engineering, UT Austin, 1996 and 1998).

It’s these kinds of role models who share their diverse interests, educational and career paths, hobbies, struggles and successes, failures and persistence, passions, and dreams who inspire. Karen Nyberg’s website tells how she sews and inspired The Astronomical Quilt Block Challenge (you can even download her quilt patterns). Stephanie Wilson enjoys snow skiing and collecting stamps from letters she receives. Sally Ride also collected stamps – space stamps and Olympic stamps were her favorite. Mae Jamison is a trained dancer and built a dance studio in her home.

It’s these individuals, with diverse interests, diverse backgrounds, and diverse experiences, who inspire our next generation of space explorers, scientists, and astronauts. It’s people who work hard in their STEM pursuits, study, and learn who inspire us to persist. It’s people who contribute to our scientific understanding of space, conduct research in space, and work with a diverse team to advance science who inspire our imagination. It’s people who are relatable with struggles, hobbies, pets, and passions.

A lot of money, fame, and an 11-minute round trip to space do not inspire. The quote “space is going to finally be glam” diminishes the empowering, important, hard work of those who have gone to space before. This does not encourage our future STEM workforce to work hard and persist. This does not shed light on the thousands of possible career paths that can lead to innovation, discovery, and advancements in science, space, and beyond.

This week’s 11-minute round-trip-to-space publicity stunt did not include STEM role models, other than Aisha Bowe (who, in my opinion, questionably claims that her 11-minute ride to space makes her an astronaut). Role models matter…for sure. I know what kind of role models I want in front of our future STEM leaders. Our future innovations depend on an inspired and diverse STEM workforce.

An Instagram moment does not make an astronaut!