Speaker: GSU Astrophysics PhD Candidate Andrew Couperus

Date: Thursday, June 5th (Imaginarium), 8-9:30pm

Title: Using Astronomy to Create a Climate for Change

Summary: People generally love astronomy, as indicated by the ubiquitous NASA T-shirts (compared to the relative lack of math T-shirts...), and astronomy itself intersects back to society in a multitude of ways. For example, astronomers are generally a trusted voice in science communication, but we also often build our telescopes atop indigenous lands. Global warming in the atmosphere of Venus directly informs our understanding of global warming on Earth, yet astronomers are some of the highest emitting people of any scientific profession. We also lead humanity's foundational search for possible life elsewhere in the Universe, but this work is regularly subject to government funding battles and economic uncertainty. In this interactive session we will explore these interrelated topics together from the astronomical perspective; you'll be asked to think, and, maybe, even talk to your neighbors!