Science has guided much of Laura Riihimaki’s life.

She knew she wanted to be a scientist at only 6 years old when she did a science fair project on static electricity. That’s when she first learned of atoms and electrons, particles naked to the human eye that are some of the building blocks for life on Earth.

Riihimaki found her way to Boulder six years ago, where the concentration of research institutions is a dream for someone wanting to serve the public through understanding the natural world. She spent years pursuing that passion as a research scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , or NOAA. The job felt like a calling to her, she said.

That calling came to a screeching halt on Feb. 27 when she and hundreds of others were laid off from NOAA and the Nati

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