Hundreds of employees at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, gathered on the grassy mall outside of Building 8 on Tuesday, June 13, for “Goddard on the Green,” the center’s first large-scale event for staff since the pandemic’s onset.
Hundreds of employees at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, gathered on the grassy mall outside of Building 8 on Tuesday, June 13, for “Goddard on the Green,” the center’s first large-scale event for staff since the pandemic’s onset.
Goddard on the Green celebrated both science and community: In addition to interactive booths sharing updates on Goddard organizations and the latest projects in work at the center, the day featured a DJ, raffle, games, car show, karaoke, and food trucks. Attendees were even treated to a musical performance by children from the Goddard Child Development Center.
“This is a really important event to be able to get away from the desks and the labs a little bit,” said Center Director Dr. Makenzie Lystrup in her opening remarks. “That personal connection is important as we build relationships, meet new people, and rebuild relationships with those that we may not have seen for a while.”
“Everybody has been in their offices accomplishing so much and being so productive during COVID, but people are not aware of everything going on in the rich Goddard community,” said Wendy Morgenstern, chief engineer for Goddard’s Instrument Systems and Technology Division. That’s what makes this event so nice.” Morgenstern also represented the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at the event. “It’s Pride Month [and] we have a lot of resources for anyone interested in supporting our community.”
For Kendall Murphy, who started her position during the pandemic, Goddard on the Green was an opportunity to interact. “It’s nice to meet people in-person versus just seeing them on video calls or just listening to their voice,” said Murphy, who works in the Exploration and Space Communications Division. “Here, you’re talking to other Goddard employees about what they do, and you’re learning about other Goddard projects.”
“It’s cool knowing that they care enough to give employees something like this,” said Anthony Griffin II, who recently joined Goddard supporting logistics in the astrophysics division. “My agency does this for me … It lets me know that NASA cares about community building.”
The event was also timed to coincide with the arrival of the center’s several hundred summer interns. Benji Busler, an intern since January, works to simplify power systems for astronauts on the Moon. He shared his enthusiasm for “being able to talk to other NASA employees and seeing everyone’s passion for their jobs.”
The occasion marked a pivotal moment, ceremonially, in Goddard’s post-pandemic trajectory, a sentiment shared by Dr. Michelle Thaller. “During COVID-19, there was so much loss,” said Thaller, astronomer and science communications specialist. “We were all lonely, we were all separated, and now that things are coming back to some degree of normal, this is a chance to get together again, celebrate, and be here, representing science.”
By Nora Lowe, with additional reporting and editing by Chyna Vargas and Angel Kumari
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Media Contact: Rob Garner
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
