As a kid, Emmanuel Masongsong always knew he would be a scientist, but didn't know what kind...he loved dinosaurs, astronomy, airplanes, and earthquakes/volcanoes, but had no idea how to apply himself. He discovered in high school that he was good at biology, so he ended up studying microbiology, viral genetics, epigenetics, and cervical cancer biomarkers at UCLA, working in a lab for 12 years. He analyzed Human Papillomavirus genes in lab experiments with tumor cell lines, comparing them to patients' cancer samples. Over time however, he realized working in a lab/hospital wasn't his thing, so he moved to a more basic approach of science advocacy, through high school AP tutoring in biology and environmental science. After 3 years involving himself in informal education through volunteering, he knew that he would continue to be a science educator! In 2011 he moved to the Experimental Space Physics group at UCLA, and regained his passion for astronomy and Earth science. Though in a managerial role, he thoroughly enjoys relaying his group's space weather research to students and the public, developing tools and demonstrations to explain the science. He believes space weather should be taught as part of environmental science as the magnetosphere affects Earth's biosphere... if anything, space weather research is the most practical form of space exploration because it affects our technology at every level, GPS and weather satellites, radio communications, even the electrical grid. Now more than ever, our society depends on space infrastructure; future astronauts and space tourists need to be protected from solar storms and other hazards. In 2018, a pair of UCLA satellites he helped build launched into space to study solar activity and the aurora! He is fortunate to have gained experience in a variety of different research and education projects, and he feels this allows him to convey his knowledge and excitement about space to people of all ages. He truly enjoys helping people get access to space, whether through telescope viewings of the planets and galaxies, or through aerospace engineering and facilitating student research, or just by sharing amazing news stories and documentaries. His main goal in life is to never stop learning and sharing what he loves with others!