Dr Hashima Hasan is a theoretical nuclear physicist and a key program scientist behind NASA’s historic James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Born in Lucknow, India, she earned her master’s degree in physics from Aligarh Muslim University and a doctorate from the University of Oxford. Since joining NASA Headquarters in 1994, Dr Hasan has monitored and managed the scientific directions of over a dozen deep-space operations. Beyond her vital deputy role on the JWST, she serves as the Astrophysics Education and Communication Lead, ensuring complex deep-space missions align with strategic global scientific objectives.