February 27, 2022
Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, Senior Project Scientist for the Space Telescope
Stars, Galaxies, Planets, and Black Holes: Exploring a Universe of Mystery and Awe
Bio:
Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is an astrophysicist, author, and speaker. She studies the process of star and planet formation in our galaxy using radio, optical, and infrared telescopes. She is also interested in national science policy and public science engagement. She served as a Congressional Science Fellow for the American Physical Society and directs the program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Wiseman studied physics at MIT, co-discovering comet Wiseman-Skiff in 1987, and continued in astronomy with her doctoral research at Harvard. She has worked with several international observatories and is currently a senior astrophysicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, serving as the senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope mission. Dr. Wiseman is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, a network of Christians in Science. She frequently gives public talks on the excitement of scientific discovery. She grew up on an Arkansas farm enjoying late night stargazing walks with her parents and pets.
Abstract:
Modern telescopes are revealing an incredible, active universe. Stars continue to form within colorful nebulae they energize. Black holes lurk in the centers of nearly all galaxies. And mysterious dark matter and dark energy play “tug of war” on the ever-expanding fabric of space. Where does life and purpose fit in this incredible cosmic drama? This talk will showcase incredible astronomical images and discoveries which enrich our contemplation of life and human significance in an awe-inspiring Cosmos.