About the Invention

Dr. Stella Melo develops equipment and models to study the atmosphere surrounding the earth and other planets. This equipment is designed to collect data about the conditions of the atmosphere, recording such details as airglow emissions, oxygen density and temperature. This information can then be used by other scientists for such purposes as improving the accuracy of weather forecast models and examining the long-term effects of human activities on the earth, as well as for studying the atmosphere of other planets.

About the Inventor

Stella Melo was born in 1961 in Brazil. As a young girl, she grew up with the expectation that someday she would be a good wife and a good mother. With dreams of building bridges and highways, she began her university studies in engineering, but after taking a course in modern physics in her second year she switched her major to physics.

It was a challenge to have her first baby while she was at university but her husband and family supported her goals and Stella completed her undergraduate degree in physics in 1985. She continued her studies and achieved a Master of Science degree in 1989 and a Ph.D. in Space Science in 1994. In 1996, Dr. Melo moved with her family to Canada for one year to work with a man who had always inspired her - Professor Ian McDade at York University.

In 1997, she was offered a position at the University of Western Ontario and also had another baby. Dr. Melo turned down a permanent position at the Brazilian Space Research Institute to remain in Canada because she was impressed with the multi-cultural diversity of the country.

Dr. Melo loves her work in the sciences. She has spoken at many scientific conferences around the world and has authored numerous articles for scientific publications. Being a woman in the scientific community presents a challenge at times, but Dr. Melo can rely on the constant support of her husband and family. She also thrives on working with "excellent people."