Plenary Talks

When do you learn a fact? Is it through repetition or connecting it to what you see in the world? I fell in love with astronomy when looking up at the night sky. That connection helped me understand Kepler's laws of motion. Whether teaching astronomy, physics, or about coral reefs, it is essential for my audience to connect to the topic. Join me in exploring informal education techniques that make science relevant to your audience.

Imposter syndrome is a common psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments. These individuals often battle a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud" in their area of expertise. Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou and Michelle Obama are among some of the more notable individuals who have talked about suffering from this internal struggle. This talk will be approached more as an opportunity for an interactive workshop, where we will discuss Imposter Syndrome generally, complete an activity to become more familiar with the negative thoughts common to individuals engaging in challenging goals, and brainstorm tactics for coping with imposter syndrome behaviors and thoughts.

The largest digital camera ever built is about to be attached to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. It will be used to conduct the Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time, which will frequently image over half the sky at unprecedented depth, ultimately creating a motion picture of the cosmos. A few observers from around the world are getting a sneak preview as at what the observatory will see, by exploring a virtual universe. I will share some of this preview data as it pertains to studies of large scale structure and galaxy evolution.