By Kailah Johnson, Contributing Writer
The Claritas Lecture series will welcome Jackie Faherty to campus to share her interactive presentation on the history of our galaxy, its millions of stars and the revolutionary efforts astronomers continue to make within our incomprehensible universe.
The astronomer, acclaimed scientist, researcher and educator of astrophysics will visit Susquehanna and present “Our Cosmic Ballet” at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Stretansky Concert Hall.
Faherty specializes in exoplanet sturdies and brown dwarfs, space objects in the solar systems that are too small to be planets and too large to be stars.
Faherty has written more than 80 peer-reviewed papers on the topics already mentioned. Her lecture will discuss the Gaia telescope, which gives scientists a map of our galaxy, as well as the Milky Way and its billions of stars.
The lecture will showcase astronomers’ and scientists’ progress and how it has revolutionized their understandings of space through an interactive virtual tour.
Physics professor Jennifer Carter, who will introduce Faherty at the lecture, explained the milestones being reached in astronomy discoveries.
“We’re getting way more information about stars then we’ve ever had before, and there’s so much data out there that no one person can analyze it,” Carter said.
“I hope that [the audience gets] a sense of amazement, astronomy is one of those fields where you’re dealing with something bigger than yourself, intrinsically, the universe is huge and this’ll give students a sense of just how big it is, and the variety of amazing things out there,” Carter continued.
“Some people don’t even know how many stars are out there, and I’m hoping it will really increase enthusiasm for astronomy on campus.”
Faherty has received numerous fellowships and grants ranging from the National Science Foundation to NASA.
Faherty also works within her community through outreach programs and by directing mentorship programs for students ranging in age from high school to postgraduate.
Aside from working as the senior scientist and senior education manager in both the department of astrophysics and the department of education at the American Museum of Natural History, Faherty also co-runs the dynamic research group Brown Dwarfs in New York City and directs the science project Backyard Worlds, where she is a leading professional in astronomical data.
She continues to do progressive work in brown dwarf and exoplanet studies and promotes STEM initiatives in underrepresented and minority groups.
The lecture is open to the Susquehanna community, and all majors are encouraged to participate in this event.
“Come with questions, take some time to ask new ones. Come ready to see something really cool, come be amazed,” Carter encouraged.
“Our Cosmic Ballet” is a part of the Claritas Lecture series, an annual lecture that brings an acclaimed and accomplished scholar in the sciences, a nationally recognized leader or innovator in business or government and education member to campus for a public address to Susquehanna.
The distinguished visitor program, which encompasses the Claritas series, was endowed by alumni George E. ’64 and Margaret Lauver ’66 Harris to support future lectures.
