Since childhood, Dr. Erin Macdonald has been in love with science fiction as well as with the dream of working as a scientist. Today she is in the enviable position of combining both loves. Erin is a noted aerospace engineer with a background in astrophysics, a consultant for science fiction writers, and a science educator (teaching kids and others about sci-fi and STEM through pop culture). As a Ph.D. student, Erin explored the mysteries of astrophysics, completing her thesis based on working with the famous LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave​ Observatory) Collaboration, an effort focused on searching for gravitational waves. Currently, she is an engineer for Engility Corporation and is also known for her work as a science educator — using pop culture to educate audiences in classrooms, seminars and sci-fi conventions on how space intersects with science fiction.