Sharing his passion for science

Martin Vega knows the power of a passionate scientist's ability to inspire people to marvel at the world around them and aspire to learn more. It was astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson who sparked Vega's own interest in science, and now the graduating senior hopes to influence future generations in the classroom as a science educator himself.

"His passion and enthusiasm that he exuded every time he explained something scientific was just so captivating," Vega said of Tyson. "I also felt rewarded after I understood something about the natural world that he explained. I just wanted to learn more. After giving it some thought, I decided to go to college to study physics."

This weekend, Vega will graduate from California State University, Bakersfield with his bachelor's degree in physics and a plan to return to the university in the fall to earn his teaching credential. Using his passion for science and everything he has learned about physics, Vega is excited to come full circle and motivate students to pursue their own scientific interests.