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Renee Juhans
Headquarters, Washington       June 26, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1712)

RELEASE: 03-206

LATINA SCIENTIST KEEPS AN EYE ON SMALLEST INHABITANTS OF 
SPACE

     When microbiologist Monserrate (Monsi) Roman came to 
the United States from Puerto Rico, she never dreamed she'd 
be a scientist working to ensure safe water and air for the 
crew of the International Space Station, the world's largest 
space laboratory. 

As a microbiologist, Roman studies microbes, living 
organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, 
which are only visible under a microscope. Microbes are 
everywhere, but most are harmless, and many do useful jobs 
like help us digest food.

"My job is to be a detective, to determine how microbes will 
behave under different situations and in different 
locations, such as the nooks and crannies of the Space 
Station," explained Roman, chief microbiologist for the 
Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) 
project at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) 
Huntsville, Ala.
  
Everyone who visits the Station comes with his or her own 
unique set of microbes. And since crewmembers, visitors, 
experiments and hardware hail from 15 Station partner 
countries, Roman must study an international, multicultural 
group of the microbes. She often collaborates with 
scientists and engineers from other countries.

"Microbes were the first inhabitants of the Space Station 
hitchhiking into orbit on equipment before people ever 
arrived," Roman said. "Each microbe is unique, and if left 
unchecked, some will thrive and could eventually eat many 
materials." 

The Station was designed with materials that are microbe-
resistant. Temperature and humidity are controlled to 
discourage microbe growth. Roman helps ensure microbes 
aren't a threat by monitoring the Station's air and water 
system. She works closely with MSFC engineers who are 
designing and testing the Oxygen Generation and Water 
Recovery equipment, a more sophisticated air and water 
recycling system to be installed on the Station. It will 
dramatically reduce the amount of water supply vehicles 
deliver to the Station.

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. 
Every summer, she mentors a student who works by her side as 
an intern at the MSFC.

Roman earned her bachelor's degree at the University of 
Puerto Rico, where she became so fascinated with 
microbiology that she washed dishes in the lab before 
finally being hired as a research assistant. She earned her 
master's degree in microbiology at the University of Alabama 
in Huntsville, and joined NASA in 1989.

"As I always tell my three sons and the students I mentor: 
Don't listen to anyone who says you can't," said Roman. "As 
a little girl, I never dreamed I would be helping NASA build 
part of a Space Station. It has been fascinating watching 
the Station go from paper drawings to a real home and 
workplace in space."

Media organizations interested in interviewing Roman should 
contact Steve Roy at:
256/544-0031.

To learn more about Roman's work and the ECLSS project and 
on the Internet, visit:

http://www1.msfc.nasa.gov/NEWSROOM/background/facts/eclss.pd
f

Microscopic Stowaways on the International Space Station:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast26nov%5F1.htm

Water on the Space Station:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast02nov%5F1.htm

Breathing Easy on the Space Station:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast13nov%5F1.htm

For information about NASA and the Space Station on the 
Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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