Dr. Shannon Lucid, a former astronaut, and holder of the record as first non-Russian woman to log the most flight hours in orbit. Michelle Gray/The Daily

OKLAHOMA CITY — Record-holding, former NASA astronaut and Oklahoma native Shannon Lucid spoke to more than 500 middle and high school students Tuesday in Oklahoma City to encourage careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Lucid holds the record for longest time in space. She has spent 5,324 hours and more than 223 days outside this world since 1979.

Lucid spoke about the importance of women in science and math professions.

Lucid said the purpose of her speech was to encourage students to pursue more active subjects than ones they might already be studying.

“There is so much more out there for students,” she said. “I encourage the students to study more active subjects because the future is rapidly changing.” Lucid also said reading programs are important.

Donna Nelson, OU chemistry professor, said young women should study math and science if they’re interested in the fields.

“[We] need a balance,” she said. “[We] still don’t have an equal number of men and women. [There are] ideas out there that we can’t do science and math. There are still people out there who think that way.”

Programs like the one held at Science Museum Oklahoma are important for young women’s success in the field, Nelson said.

She said if a young woman walks into a classroom or science lab, she shouldn’t be discouraged because of a lack of women.

“[She will] still have the persistence to stay with it and succeed,” Nelson said.

It is also a waste of society’s resources to not utilize women in the fields, she said.

Lucid said she told her students and children to pursue math because the future cannot be predicted, but strong math skills will be the foundation for most future professions.

Even though it was uncommon for women to work while she attended OU, Lucid said she decided to work. She is astounded by the changes that have taken place since then, she said.

“There was no program like that when she was here for women,” Nelson said. Nelson was the first 10-year-track professor hired in the chemistry department, she said.

Lucid said she knew at an early age she wanted to get involved in science.

“Here in Oklahoma we talk about pioneers and settling the west,” she said. “I used to play pioneer when I was a little girl and I always wanted to grow up to be an explorer and explore the universe, because surely the entire universe will never be explored in my lifetime.”

Lucid is an OU graduate and said she is thankful to have had the opportunities she did because they helped her succeed.

“I hope the students of OU realize what a wonderful opportunity they have and take the fullest advantage of their opportunities,” Lucid said.