The most important thing is to learn how to learn... Math teaches you how to learn.

Have you ever designed a video game? Before you say, "I can't do that," think about what skills you would need. You'd have to know how to write computer programs and use graphics. If your game were on the Internet, you'd have to know how to build and maintain websites. If you led the whole project, you'd need to know how to manage time and people. Finally, you'd need to be able to communicate well so that people knew of your game and would play it. If you don't have these skills now, you could learn them.

Think what fun it would be! You'd get to be creative and come up with cool ideas that you and your players would enjoy. You could plan the story and the characters and decide how a player would "win." The possibilities are endless since not all video games are about racing or blowing up things. You could even design games that help kids learn about space and science in a fun way.

That's the kind of game that Dr. Robert Shelton designs. Robert is a computer programmer and webmaster but his official title is Mathematical Researcher. Before his current job at NASA, he was a college mathematics professor. His math and computer skills allow him to do many kinds of work. In fact, at Johnson Space Center (JSC), where he works, he has to "change hats frequently," as he puts it, to do all kinds of projects.

His accomplishments alone are remarkable. What he's overcome to achieve them makes HIM remarkable. Robert Shelton is blind. "I lost my sight when I was 11," he explains. Try solving complex math problems in your head and you'll begin to understand how amazing he is! Today, with the help of a computer that talks to him (very quickly!), Robert can do almost anything. Imagine what you could do if you worked at it the way Robert does.


What exactly do you do?

As the project head, I'm responsible for raising the money we need to create and maintain educational websites and software, so I do a lot of grant writing [to get funding]. In addition, I write code for the projects and oversee a small staff. I'm involved, too, with efforts to make all the NASA Internet sites accessible to people with disabilities of any kind.

I also have some side projects. For example, JSC has about 10,000 computers and I help the Information Systems Directorate use those PC's when workers are at home. The project is called "Jgravity" and is similar to the "SETI at home" project. SETI is the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence project, where ordinary people nationwide use their home computers to help process tons of information over the web. We do the same thing here at JSC but we're not listening for ET's; we're processing programs too large for one computer to handle.


What's the coolest part of your job?

Working on the Internet--being on the "cutting edge."


What's your favorite part?

It used to be taking problems and solving them. Now it's the quality of people I work with.


Tell a story about problem solving in your job.

One terrible problem we had was to figure out how to create a 3-D virtual world for our robotics simulation. This world had to be "drivable" from our code; that is, the display had to change as our simulation progressed. We finally discovered a feature of Java (an Internet language) and virtual reality modeling language (VRML) that provided this capability. We also lucked into a VRML model of the International Space Station that someone else had made. It would have cost us many times the total budget of the project just to create that model if we'd had to do it ourselves.

You have the power today to set yourself up for... a better life.

Describe a funny story that happened on the job.

I was giving a presentation to a number of people. I was about to demonstrate an online web game show when the web server went down. Instead of showing how it worked, I had to stand there and describe the website and game to the audience.


How did you become a web programmer?

I've always been good at math and science. When I was getting my degree at Rice University, I would work summers at Johnson Space Center, so I've had a long connection with NASA. I got my degree in Mathematics and then I was a math professor at a small engineering school in Michigan. Eventually, I came to work full-time for NASA. I made the transition from mathematical research into Internet game programming when I was asked to take over the educational project that predated our current activity. It was supposed to be a temporary assignment. As the years went by, the project grew into its present form.


What surprised you about your job when you first started?

The high level of talent around me. I work with some really smart, creative people.


How has your job changed over time?

In the beginning, I worked much more than 40 hours a week in order to prove myself.


What advice do you have for students entering high school?

You're never going to have any more time and talent than you do now. Take advantage of it. You have the power today to set yourself up for more options and a better life in the future by learning as much as you can. The most important thing is to learn how to learn. You'll need to keep learning for the rest of your life. When it comes to deciding on a career, getting a technical degree is good but don't focus on too narrow an area of study because it limits your options.


What disappointed you?

Not having summers off the way I did when I was a professor.


What's the part you like least about your job?

Having to deal with the bureaucracy of a large agency.


How do you cope with parts of your job you dislike?

I ignore what I can. I call that "benign neglect." When I have to do something I dislike, I focus on my vision and goal, especially when it all doesn't seem to matter. Everyone feels that way sometime and then it passes. I also try to think about the people who fund my projects and the students that will use the games. I help give young people a vision; I can see the impact of what I do. That helps me get to work.


How do people react when they learn what you do for a living?

It varies. I usually don't make a big point of telling a lot of people what I do.


What's your average stress level at work?

It's reasonable.


Is your workload steady or does it fluctuate?

It varies. There was a lot to do when I first became a manager but it's settled down now.


What information do you need to keep up in your field and where do you get it?

I need to know math so I keep studying it. In fact, I still write math papers unrelated to my current work. I also need to keep up with the latest software and Internet languages. I just learned JAVA [an Internet language], for example. To do that, I look on the Internet, learn through trial and error, ask my talented coworkers, and take tutorials. Sometimes I take classes but it's rare.


What type of space do you work in?

Office.


What's the dress code?

Business casual.


Do you usually work alone or with people?

I spend about half of my time working with people such as the three contractors who help with some projects.


What kinds of equipment do you work with?

I use computers for all that I do.


What role does writing play in your work?

For presentations, for the games.


What role does public speaking play in your work?

When trying to get funding, I give presentations.


How do interpersonal skills come into play in your work?

I work with engineers and programmers. They talk different languages and I have to adapt to them. I also need to know how to work past conflict. Conflict happens whenever creativity and diversity are involved and it's sometimes helpful. It's a good meeting if we're throwing chairs at each other! But then we need to come together to get things done.