Breaking the Code with Shreya Srivathsan

Cindy: Breaking the Code with Gabriella tells the story of a young girl who overcomes gender stereotypes in robotics, cementing herself as a role model for young women. The book includes science and engineering information, such as the design process and Java tutorial. As part of our initiative to empower young girls to pursue their interest in STEM, we're running the Breaking the Code with Gabriella: Trailblazers in STEM Speaker Series, which explores the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, and math. The series aims to dispel gender stereotypes and help young girls get advice on how to pursue their own passions. 

Cindy: And with that, today we're here with Shreya Srivathsan, who is a student at the University of Michigan from Dallas studying political science and interdisciplinary astronomy with a potential minor in public policy. She's an active member of the Michigan debate team, the Outreach chair for the student Astronomical Society, and the policy lead for the Space Generation Advisory Council. She is also a Running Star Congressional fellow and enjoys serving her community as an election inspector. She's driven by her passion for political correspondence campaign strategizing and the intersection of space law and policy with intellectual property. So now could you give a brief introduction about yourself - anything you like to add, anything about your journey in STEM, your future goals, or current interests that you think are notable?

Shreya: That was a great introduction. Thank you so much for having me. When it comes to my journey in STEM, I struggled a lot, mainly because I never felt connected to any aspect of the STEM industry. I remember my dad forced me to take STEM classes throughout middle school, and I revolted against them. I tried not to use the word "hate," but I genuinely struggled. It was a brutal time because I never felt connected to any of the projects I was working on. It felt really random, and even the people I worked with never clicked for me. 

Shreya: Just to backtrack a little and talk about math and its struggles—I kind of always knew I wanted to go into law, and I thought, "Okay, well, it's never going to connect [to STEM], that's fine. I don't have to do math-heavy things; I can just avoid this, and it'll be great. I'll stick to my policy and law initiatives and go down this route." But then, I never really saw how it would connect in the future. That's something I hope to encourage young women to explore, especially in ways they look at their own passions and how they can bridge those passions with STEM-related projects. It's important because it shapes you as an individual and challenges the status quo of whatever problem or initiative you're working on.

Shreya: I always disliked being a STEM student, and I'll going to be honest—I never thought I would do or even consider pursuing anything related to it. Don't get me wrong; I've always respected people who could program and code and do all the difficult, intimidating, challenging things. But it was always something that intimidated me. Now, I'm taking C classes, learning how to use JavaScript and Python. It connects, whether you like it or not, and it's a journey of figuring out how to connect your passions. I'm going to keep repeating this because I feel like it's genuinely the gist of it—find something you're passionate about. If that's something STEM-related, that's great. But find something that truly gives you a sense of purpose and bridge that, and step out of your comfort zone, with whatever you're learning. 

Cindy: I definitely feel that, because it [STEM] seems really intimidating at the beginning.

Shreya: For sure—I'm not even joking I avoided math classes as much as possible in high school. The main focus for me was statistics. I was so revolted by the idea of having to do calculus that I took Algebra 2 and then immediately jumped to AP Statistics, as I could not do calculus for the life of me.

Cindy: I think for STEM, there is a big barrier or even mental challenge for people just getting into the subject. Building on what you said, is there a specific moment that made you want to pursue such a unique combination of public policy and STEM? What was the driving factor behind that?

Shreya: Great question. In high school, I took an independent study program course called PCIS. I took it for two years, though it's meant to be a one-year program. You learn about professionalism, work on a year-long project, and shadow a mentor within your field. Being surrounded by my classmates, who were very driven and had unique career interests, I started talking to a couple of my engineering-interested friends. They were passionate about engineering and wanted to do something related to it. I began brainstorming, thinking there were unique areas of law I needed to explore. 

Shreya: That prompted me to look into it more, and I came across intellectual property law, which requires a STEM background. There's also outer space law, which intrigued me. I struggled to find a mentor because I didn't know anyone in outer space law. I wondered where I could find a mentor and how I would make a project when I didn't know any of this. But I was drawn to it. I can't explain it, but I obsessed over it. I came home and told my dad, "Oh my gosh, this is it for me. I love this topic, you need to look into it." My dad and I are really close, so he immediately asked, "What in the world are you talking about? What is outer space law?" Everyone I talk to now about this reacts the same way—it seems silly at first, but the more you look into it, the more you learn. It connects to every industry you can think of, and it's beautiful.

Shreya: Just to go back to where I was—so the challenge was finding a mentor. I started cold calling and emailing a bunch of people, asking if they had any connections because I needed to learn more about this. I ended up reaching out to the General Counsel for NASA. It was a big deal because I was sitting with this General Counsel, someone really high up in the legal field. We had a very engaging conversation where I shared what I had researched and talked to people about. Thoroughly having those conversations and sharing what I was learning really helped. I had a supportive community to rely on, which was a privilege I still have. 

Shreya: I don't think there was a specific moment, but that conversation with the General Counsel really helped me. Having mentors and people to reach out to, people to bounce ideas off of, was crucial. It could be a school-related project or something I'm working on on my own, but having a community was really important. I was able to find that through the course, and even now, I'm still in touch with those people. Looking back, it's great to say, "Oh my gosh, I found my thing through this course." I would recommend that anyone interested in anything STEM-related or unique in its own way talk to people. Talk about your ideas, your initiatives, your passions, no matter how silly you think they are. Just have conversations about it.

Cindy: Yeah, definitely. I think having a class in school and a mentor to guide you through the process is crucial. Personally, when I was in elementary school, that's how I got into robotics. I had a really supportive and amazing mentor who was my inspiration growing up. That's one of the reasons I'm still so interested in it. Having a good mentor system, someone we really look up to, is especially important for minorities or girls who might otherwise feel excluded.

Shreya: Yeah, for sure. Even with math, I never had a good math teacher, which explains everything. But I'm kidding—I love my math teachers. They were awesome and tried their best, but here we are.

Cindy: Yeah, I think having someone older, or even just a little older, that you look up to is super important. It can really make a difference in what you pursue. Building off that, I know you mentioned outer space law—that sounds super interesting. Could you talk a little more about what you've done with it, what it is exactly? When I first saw that you were interested in it, I thought it sounded fascinating. I’d love to know more about that and how you can get involved with it.

Shreya: Yeah, well, to start off, I get that reaction literally every time I bring it up. It's always funny because I have these bullet points that go down. So, outer space law—what is it? It’s mainly anything and everything involving outer space. It could be related to the government, like NASA, and how they interact with anything in outer space. There are different sectors, such as reconnaissance satellites and defense systems. If you look at satellites in general, like GPS systems, a lot of that has to do with outer space law. People don’t realize how much society relies on it. It connects to agriculture and nearly every industry. To go into specifics, rather than just using layman's terms, you can look into the Outer Space Treaty. Have you heard of that before? 

Cindy: I don’t think so.

Shreya: Okay, no worries. It’s looking into what space laws—international relations, but you’re taking it up into space. The Outer Space Treaty is the main framework for space law, kind of like the essential part. Professionals and researchers refer to it a lot. There are other agreements too, like the Rescue Agreement, which addresses how you should act in space. There are many different frameworks and agreements. The Outer Space Treaty is central, and you’ll hear it brought up often. There’s also the Registration Convention, Liability Convention, and more.

Shreya: To break it down, there's this book called *Space Law: A Treatise, Second Edition*. It's like the Bible for outer space law, and it’s so good. I highly recommend it for anyone interested. It dives into many aspects, like space objects, mining, and the legal frameworks that govern activities like asteroid mining. One of the most controversial aspects I’m researching is how the private sector gets involved. We have many space startups doing research, but there’s debate over whether the privatization of space is good and how it should be handled legally.

Shreya: Space law also deals with things like space hotels. I don't know if you heard about Elon Musk strapping his Tesla to a rocket to go to space, but that’s part of it too. It poses many challenges and unique questions, which is why I’m so fascinated by it. It’s also relatively novel, having gained momentum during the Cold War. Since then, it has become a rapidly evolving field. Being part of something so dynamic and constantly changing is exciting, and I’m planning to make a career out of it. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m very passionate about this.

Shreya: For those interested in space law, I recommend exploring unique fields, asking questions, and diving into the details of why things happen. When you ask those questions and try to understand heavy concepts, it leads to even more questions. That’s the best part of researching—pushing forward the new frontier of space policy. It’s definitely not easy, and I’m still figuring it out myself, but it’s a rewarding journey. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for space policy and law. There’s also a lot of influence from international affairs, with countries like Russia, China, and India heavily involved. Have you seen the show *Space Force*? It’s on Netflix, I think. It’s really good and connects to this field, even from a sci-fi lens. There’s so much to this field, and I could go on and on, but to answer your question—it is very interesting.

Cindy: That sounds amazing. To be so fascinated by such a specific and interesting focus since sophomore year is impressive. I’m a big sci-fi fan myself, so I like imagining what could be in the future. As space exploration advances, space law will only become more important, especially with key players like private organizations and governments. It’s definitely a field that will become even more relevant in the future.

Shreya: Yeah, the relevancy is so real. I attended a talk by a very important person at NASA, and he mentioned that the way privatization is happening in the space industry is outpacing space law's ability to address those concerns. There’s a lot of research and thought on this, but not enough action. My goal is to push forward on that action because it's a very important point.

Cindy: Yeah, definitely. Being able to make progress and set these laws is very important, especially as we will need them very soon. Getting to know a little bit more about your current involvement within space law, I know you're on the National Space Policy Task Force, a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council, and the External Outreach Chair of the Student Astronomical Society. Could you talk more about your roles in these organizations or any others you might want to mention?

Shreya: Yeah, so with SpaceGen, which I mentioned earlier, it’s a phenomenal organization. My role with them has been as a policy lead, even though I’ve only been with them for less than a year. As a policy lead, I edit people’s work and discuss upcoming policy developments in the field. There are so many changes happening, so we have to keep up with the information, research it well, and delve into some very heavy topics. I help people write and edit their pieces, contribute to discussions, and attend meetings every other week, though that changes depending on which task force you're part of.

Shreya: The best part is that SpaceGen is incredibly big, and everyone is really well connected. You have people who are early in their careers and others who are well-established. The range of experience is amazing because you can meet so many people working on the next big thing in the industry. It's very cool to connect with them, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions. SpaceGen also hosts many conferences throughout the year, and it’s incredible how they support so many initiatives. This community has been really important to me, not just for my career, but for creating authentic bonds and meaningful connections with people.

Shreya: As for the Student Astronomical Society, that’s at the University of Michigan. Almost every university has a similar group, and if not, it’s a great initiative to start. My specific role is the External Outreach Chair, where I recruit people to join the club on campus. When I was running for this position, it was like a campaign simulation, running for public office. I was the only person without a STEM background because most of the other candidates were studying astronomy, astrophysics, or aerospace engineering. I stood there, introducing myself as a poli-sci major also studying interdisciplinary astro, and saying I wanted to be the External Outreach Chair. It was interesting, but everyone was very welcoming.

Shreya: I think I bring a unique perspective to their research, which is very technical and specific to astrophysics and astronomy. I’m not that person, but I’m okay with that. Even deciding to go down the interdisciplinary astro path has been a challenge. I’ve questioned whether this is for me, whether I can handle differential calculus and physics in college, especially since I want to go to law school and don’t want to hurt my GPA. But stepping out of my comfort zone and joining the Student Astronomical Society has made me a stronger individual. I realized that with effort, a supportive community, and a good mindset, I can take on anything.

Shreya: So, I decided to step out of my comfort zone, give a speech, and explain why I wanted the role. I was lucky enough to get the position, and now I get to encourage more people to join the organization on campus. I’m excited to see who we recruit and how big the organization gets, especially with exciting events coming in the fall, like Festifall on campus. It’s an event where everyone has a poster board and recruits people for their club, and I’ll be doing that. I’m very excited to see what happens with both of these organizations, and I’m also looking at growing in my career, exploring research opportunities, and finding internships.

Cindy: Yeah, I think there’s definitely a lot to be said about the connection between majors that might not actually be in STEM fields, kind of like how we did with the picture book art and technology, inspiring young children. There’s a lot to be said about pushing out of your comfort zone and seeing the connections to create an even brighter future. Speaking of challenges, have you faced any as a woman in a male-dominated field like astronomy, and how have you tried to overcome them?

Shreya: Yeah, I think this would be an interesting question for me 20 years from now. To answer it to the best of my abilities, I think some of it is internal too. When you're faced with rejections or some type of failure on your journey toward your goal of becoming a space policy expert, or whatever that goal is, people can be hesitant. They might question it, asking if you're sure you want to do this, if you want to wreck your GPA, or if you want to take these risks. 

Shreya: You start to internalize those doubts, wondering if you deserve to be in this space—no pun intended. You start thinking, is this something I can truly make a career out of? Being first-gen put me in the mindset of wanting to choose a major or a path of studies that would support me no matter what happens. I want to be financially independent and stable, which is something my parents encouraged me to think about. 

Shreya: Justifying my decisions regarding my major and figuring out my four-year plan, and how what I'm studying now will impact my life 10 years from now, has been a conversation I’ve had with many people. Some have not been supportive, and that’s okay. You have to take things with a grain of salt and remember that not everyone will be on your side or believe in you, but you don’t necessarily need to rely on that. 

Shreya: At the end of the day, it comes down to what's in your heart. You have to power through the biases, other people’s opinions, and the self-imposed blockades—the walls you put up for yourself, thinking you can’t do this. That mindset is very important. Surround yourself with people you trust and value, who will be honest with you. You don’t always have to take their opinion completely, but you need to consider what's best for you in the moment and what gives you the utmost happiness. It sounds a little cringey, but if you’re truly passionate about something, it will work out as long as you’re doing your best and persevering through challenges, even if it's calculus homework. People’s opinions will always be there, but you have to keep going, keep swimming through all of that, and take it all with a grain of salt because we’re all on this giant rock called Earth, and in the end, nothing really matters.

Cindy: Yeah, so kind of building off of that, if there was one piece of career-related advice that you could give to your middle school self or other young students just like you, what would it be?

Shreya: Keep asking questions. Genuinely get curious about everything because you don’t know how the dots are going to connect. I literally wrote my college essay on this—how the dots are going to connect. I think it was based on a speech given at a Stanford commencement. Ask questions about everything and try to learn as much as possible, even if it’s something you don’t like. Give it a shot, and try to understand ways you can make those things fun, ways you can connect with it, and maybe even try to bridge different aspects of what you’re interested in to find something you truly like. It could be fashion and tech, or something that involves helping others with the public education system. There are so many different things you can do.

Shreya: Defining your sense of purpose by asking questions is really important because you learn more about yourself, grow as an individual, and that will set you apart in high school, college, and your entire life. You start to think differently, step out of your comfort zone, and attract people who are like that as well. Then, you get a community of people who are curious and always ask why. Just always have a curious mind and step out of your comfort zone by picking up random things because you never know how it’s going to connect. If you’re not interested in it, that’s fine, but at least now you know because you tried. That’s my biggest advice to my middle school self.

Cindy: Yeah, I mean, that’s honestly a great piece of advice because I definitely still use that to this day. Having that innate curiosity can really lead you very far, especially in the science fields, but also everywhere, no matter what you want to pursue, and it helps you find out what you’re actually passionate about. Perfect, so our last question is, what advice would you give to young girls across the world who are listening to this or are looking to get involved in your field, combining public policy and STEM?

Shreya: Yeah, great question. I think to start off, it would just be going back to community. Supporting each other and finding friends who support your goals, dreams, and challenge you in ways you never thought before is really important. So yeah, look out for each other. When you have a community of people, especially women and empowered girls, it makes all the difference. A great example of that is something like Running Start. It’s not tech-related or STEM-related, but it encourages women to run for office, and I was able to find a great community of women who empower each other every day.

Cindy: Yeah, I definitely agree. Having that community is super important in being able to succeed in whatever field you’re going into. Thank you so much for speaking with me today, and I hope you have a great day.

Shreya: All right, thank you.