Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Here at UVA, I've been involved in a handful of DEI oriented groups. Currently, I am the accessibility program coordinator for the outreach group "Dark Skies, Bright Kids." We are working with Geneva Lake Astronomy and STEAM (GLAS) alongside the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (VSDB) to create accessible activities, events, and lessons for blind and low vision students. During the 2024 STEM day at VSDB, we hosted three newly accessiblized activity stations where students got to create a play-doh solar system, explore 3D printed telescopes, and observe on a real solar telescope!
I was one of two elected graduate student representatives on the department DEI committee from 2022-2024. We sought to raise graduate student pay, create clearer TA guidelines and more equitable TA assignments, and diversify our student body. I also participated in biweekly DEI discussion/book club where we sat down to talk about an essay, article, website, podcast covering topics from allyship, systemic racism, transformative classrooms, and activism. I am still growing in my understanding of the structures and institutions we live under and hope to make meaningful changes in my communities.
I was one of two elected graduate student representatives on the department DEI committee from 2022-2024. We sought to raise graduate student pay, create clearer TA guidelines and more equitable TA assignments, and diversify our student body. I also participated in biweekly DEI discussion/book club where we sat down to talk about an essay, article, website, podcast covering topics from allyship, systemic racism, transformative classrooms, and activism. I am still growing in my understanding of the structures and institutions we live under and hope to make meaningful changes in my communities.
Outreach
Astronomy's impact is only as strong as its communicators. This is why I strongly value and enjoy outreach events at all levels of scientific understanding.
At UVA, I have given a number of talks to a wide range of audiences. From the 1 hour lesson on supernovae, light curves, and machine learning I gave to the local high school astronomy club, to the brief introduction on galaxy shapes, colors, and evolution I gave to elementary students, to the starter on how to accommodate neurodiverse students in the classroom I presented at a collaboration conference, I take pride in my ability to clearly communicate with audiences at all levels. In less formal settings, I've volunteered at McCormick Observatory Public Nights and Charlottesville/Albemarle Star Parties where even small telescopes can make big impacts in each person's understanding of their place in the universe. Seeing the wonder in eyes of all ages reminds me that I have (one of) the coolest jobs in the universe.
At the University of Texas at Austin, as a part of the Gender Minorities in Physics (GMiP) chapter, I volunteered at various UT and public events. I loved interacting with kids and parents alike at these events. Often, the kids would be interested in whatever gyroscope or polarizer I had in front of me while the parents pretended to be looking elsewhere. But once they started hearing their kid's excitement and the interesting physics behind these everyday objects, I could see them start to lean in and listen too. I think science should be accessible to all people and that's why I find these public events so important to engage in- we are fostering science literacy and enthusiasm both in current and future generations.
At UVA, I have given a number of talks to a wide range of audiences. From the 1 hour lesson on supernovae, light curves, and machine learning I gave to the local high school astronomy club, to the brief introduction on galaxy shapes, colors, and evolution I gave to elementary students, to the starter on how to accommodate neurodiverse students in the classroom I presented at a collaboration conference, I take pride in my ability to clearly communicate with audiences at all levels. In less formal settings, I've volunteered at McCormick Observatory Public Nights and Charlottesville/Albemarle Star Parties where even small telescopes can make big impacts in each person's understanding of their place in the universe. Seeing the wonder in eyes of all ages reminds me that I have (one of) the coolest jobs in the universe.
At the University of Texas at Austin, as a part of the Gender Minorities in Physics (GMiP) chapter, I volunteered at various UT and public events. I loved interacting with kids and parents alike at these events. Often, the kids would be interested in whatever gyroscope or polarizer I had in front of me while the parents pretended to be looking elsewhere. But once they started hearing their kid's excitement and the interesting physics behind these everyday objects, I could see them start to lean in and listen too. I think science should be accessible to all people and that's why I find these public events so important to engage in- we are fostering science literacy and enthusiasm both in current and future generations.
Group photo of all the 2019 GMiP members at one of our weekly meetings
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Photo taken during a Star Party on the roof of the PMA building at UT Austin. We had cool demos, liquid N2 ice cream, and lots of city light pollution □
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