This past Monday, the Women of Aerospace held an event called Nerding the Gap. The event was a forum about being a woman in the aerospace engineering. “King of the Nerds” contestant Mary Kate Smith and 2013 Miss Mississippi USA Paromita Mitra led the discussion. 
The primary goal of Nerding the Gap was to elaborate on the feminine perspective in the aerospace engineering field. The event, held in the McCool Taylor Auditorium at 6:30 p.m., was the first of many events that the Women of Aerospace plan to showcase to the public. Women in Aerospace is a new student group in the Deptartment of Aerospace Engineering. Its mission includes the promotion of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, outreach to the community, mentorship and professional development of its members. 
Mary Kate Smith, co-host of the event, said she hopes everyone gets the most they can out of this experience. 
“We aren’t giving a rocket science lecture. We are taking the road that Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye have taken: make yourself relatable to everyone. I hope that when people leave the talk, they take something away from what we say. We have learned so much and hope to somehow express it so that others can learn as well,” Smith said. “The goal of the event is to bridge, or in this case, ‘nerd’ the gap of being women in aerospace engineering and in the public eye. We want to tell our stories we have learned through them.”
 
Rani Sullivan, assistant professor in aerospace engineering, said the engineering field offers a range of opportunities, and the event is an excellent way to promote the STEM program.
“The field of engineering is an exciting and innovative field that gives an individual numerous opportunities to positively impact the world around them. I am excited about our ASE students and engineering students seizing opportunities to have a diverse range of experiences and ultimately have positive impact,” Sullivan said.
In an effort to stay relatable to the audience, Smith and Mitra will talk mainly about their experiences and life lessons. 
Mitra, one of the featured guests, said that she hopes her stories encourage both the MSU and Starkville communities.
“We are women in rocket science inspiring kids and adults alike to be more than the status quo. We are encouraging them to find their passion in life and let that passion lead them on a path of self-discovery. I really can’t wait to see the crowd’s reaction to our stories. Both my and Mary Kate’s experiences have been so unique yet similar in so many ways. As Miss Mississippi USA 2013 I got to share my story with children all over the state of Mississippi and country, and now I just hope to be able to share with my peers as well.”
Mitra shared advice to those also pursing challenging dreams.
“These past four years of my life went by so fast, but the entire process was certainly grueling and at times seemed nearly impossible,” Mitra said. “One of my favorite quotes is ‘never, never, never give up’ by Winston Churchill. I would give this advice to not only women, but everyone pursuing something difficult in their life. Although simple, this quote is what fuels my fire most days. It is so important to remember that nothing worth having is easy to come by. It takes dedication.”