Brief Bio

Maggie Masetti is the Social Media Lead and Web Site Manager for the James Webb Space Telescope mission. She writes science content for use on multiple platforms, and is always look for new and interesting ways for NASA to engage with the public. She organized a 2016 Artist Event, which became a 2017 art exhibit and an ongoing social media JWST-inspired art campaign. 

She has previously done web development and education/outreach for missions including Suzaku and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, and for the Astrophysics Science Division (NASA Blueshift) and the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. During a stint in Earth Science, she worked on the "Echo the Bat" and "Amelia the Pigeon" education/outreach projects, as well as on web development for the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, and the Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics.

Education

Maggie Masetti received BS degrees in Physics and Astronomy/Astrophysics, with a Math minor, from the Pennsylvania State University in 1997.

Current Projects

Professional Societies

Awards

Adnet Unsung Hero Peer Award, 2018
Adnet Outstanding Acheivement Award, 2018
Adnet CREW Award (Customer Recognition of Exemplary Work), 2014
Adent Outstanding Acheivement Award, 2010
NASA Group Acheivement Award to JWST Project Team, 2009
SSAI Outstanding Acheivement Award, 2005

Other Professional Information

Maggie has been involved in education & public outreach (as well as website development) at NASA since her summer internship in 1996. She has worked for the Lab for High Energy Astrophysics, the Lab for Terrestrial Science, the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, and the Astrophysics Science Division. As a result, she has had experience in both the space and earth sciences, though her background is in astrophysics.

Over the years she has: written articles about astrophysics; worked with teachers; developed activities and lesson plans; created posters and other print materials; designed and created websites, on-line learning centers, and Flash games; and run social media accounts and events - all to help bring NASA science to the public and to educators.

Currently, she is the social media lead for the JWST mission, and also manages their website (http://jwst.nasa.gov).

Select Outreach/Social Media Highlights:

• #JWSTArt: organized social media campaign of JWST-inspired art created by and contributed to our gallery by the public. (https://jwst.nasa.gov/jwstArt/publicArt.html)
• 2017 JWST Art Exhibit: organized a NASA Goddard Visitor Center exhibit of JWST inspired art which was created as a result of the 2016 artist event. The art has also been shown in two separate exhibits in Austin, TX.  (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/an-inside-look-at-nasas-webb-telescope-art-exhibit) Online art gallery: https://jwst.nasa.gov/jwstArt/
• 2016 JWST Artist Event: organized a highly successful social media event for artists to come create art in front of JWST (https://nasa.tumblr.com/post/152962662834/the-james-webb-space-telescope-a-story-of-art)
• 2016/2017 AwesomeCon: organized panels on JWST
• NASA Blueshift: between 2007 and 2016, wrote blogs (over 225) and podcasted for NASA Blueshift, the Astrophysics Science Division's "backstage pass" to the science, missions and people involved in NASA Goddard astrophysics. (http://universe.nasa.gov/blueshift)
• 2015 Explore @ NASA Goddard: answered questions about JWST from inside cleanroom during public open house
• 2014 JWST NASA Social: organized of an all-day NASA event (http://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/blueshift/index.php/2014/07/31/nasa-social/)
• 2013 SXSW: Contributed to the JWST presence (full scale model and media tent) at SXSW 2013, also wrote social media posts and blogs.
• "Build It Yourself: Satellite": created a game where you get to be the scientist and build your own space telescope. (http://jwst.nasa.gov/build.html)
• "Scope It Out": created a game for comparing JWST, Hubble, and a simple backyard telescope (http://jwst.nasa.gov/scope.html)
• "Amelia the PIgeon": team member for development of this K-4 feature for learning about change over time. (http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/amelia/)
• The Cosmic Distance Scale: a feature for learning about the size and scale of the universe (https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cosmic/)
• X-ray Spectroscopy and the Chemistry of Supernova Remnants: a series of lesson plans (http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/lessons/xray_spectra/spectra_cover.html)
• Shedding a New Light on the Universe: an informational booklet on X-ray astronomy: (http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/xte/learning_center/universe/universe.html)

Profiles and interviews:

NASA.gov profile: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/meet-maggie-masetti.html

Conversations with Goddard profile: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/people/MMasetti.html

Girl Teaches Girl: 2017 interview: 
https://www.girlteachesgirl.com/single-post/2017/08/26/Spotlight-On-Maggie-Masetti-NASA-Social-Media-Lead-Website-Manager

Selected Publications

Refereed

Masetti, M. E. 2012. "Combining Social Media with Innovative Ways of Communicating about the James Webb Space Telescope." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 44:

Masetti, M. E., and S. Bowers. 2011. "The James Webb Space Telescope RealWorld-InWorld Design Challenge: Involving Professionals in a Virtual Classroom." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 43:

Krishnamurthi, A., J. C. Lochner, C. Conaty, et al. S. Eyermann, T. Ferrell, G. Gliba, B. Griswold, M. Masetti, S. Mitchell, F. Reddy, T. Toth, and A. Vandoren. 2010. "Using IYA to Bring the Universe Down to Earth in the Metro DC Area." Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future Proceedings of a conference held September 12-16, 2009 in Millbrae, California, USA Edited by Jonathan Barnes, Denise A Smith, Michael G Gibbs, and James G Manning, p363,

Mitchell, S. E., M. Gibb, M. Masetti, et al. T. Nelson, F. Reddy, and E. Winter. 2010. "NASA Blueshift: Mobilizing The Astronomy-Interested Public Through New Media." American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #46505; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol 42, p504,

Masetti, M. E. 1998. "Shedding a New Light on the Universe." Shedding a New Light on the Universe, [Full Text (Link)]

Special Experience

Maggie is conversational in Norwegian.

She is also a notary public in Maryland. Commission expires Sept 13, 2022.