Winter 2025: A Celebration of Black Excellence
Letter from the Chair
Jessica Werk: Professor and Chair of Astronomy
At this moment, even as NASA's DEI pages go dark, portraits of pioneering scientists of color are removed from NIH halls, and vital programs like the NSF MPS-Ascend Fellowship are discontinued, UW Astronomy remembers that scientific excellence is built on the contributions of diverse talents. We celebrate the brilliant constellation of perspectives, experiences, and talents that make our community extraordinary. Our commitment to creating an environment where every scientist can thrive remains unwavering - where our policies and practices ensure all voices are heard and all talents can shine. As Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown reminds us, the moral arc of the Universe "does not bend towards justice on its own—no, it only does so because people pull it towards justice. It is an active exercise, not a passive one."
In this spirit, we dedicate our Winter Newsletter to Black History Month and to spotlighting the groundbreaking work being led by Black astrophysicists in our department. Black excellence is not a threat to our institutions - it is the foundation of our future scientific discovery. While some may seek to erase these contributions, we choose instead to amplify and center them.
Our department has grown with the addition of new members this year. Two new faculty members, Professors Nora Shipp and Arianna Long, a cohort of exceptional postdoctoral scientists, three studious first-year Ph.D. students, and our largest-ever cohort of undergraduate majors bring fresh energy and perspectives. Our dedicated staff team grows with Ricky Chon, who brings thirteen years of experience in educational equity to Astronomy academic advising, and Liza Young, whose sixteen years of administrative expertise has been invaluable in helping us to better coordinate our expanding programs and support our broader community.
Our community's resilience shines through in remarkable achievements in the past few months. The Simonyi Telescope at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has achieved first light, and recently released an extraordinary 144 Mpix image from the commissioning camera. In the next year, upcoming data releases will usher in a new era in astronomy. We celebrate UW undergraduate astronomy major Giovanni Gollotti's Chambliss poster prize and Ph.D. candidate Steven Stetzler's Doxsey thesis prize at the January AAS meeting this year. Professor Nora Shipp has been awarded the prestigious Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) Scialog grant for Early Science with the LSST, a recognition that highlights her innovative contributions to astronomy and strengthens our department's position at the forefront of cosmological discovery. Our new Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics program in Hawaiʻi, launching this August under Program Director Dr. Brittany Kamai's leadership, centers Pacific Indigenous scientific traditions and knowledge systems in understanding the cosmos.
In the face of attempts to undermine institutional support for science - from funding pauses to retroactive overhead caps that threaten research nationwide - we remain undaunted. Our collaboration with AAAS SEA Change continues to strengthen our inclusive practices. Our research continues to break new ground, from mapping hundreds of millions of stars in our galactic neighborhood to understanding carbon transport in distant galaxies.
Sometimes the best resistance is finding joy in community and showing up for each other. As we prepare for LSST's revolutionary survey beginning this spring, we recommit ourselves to the principle that diversity drives discovery. Black excellence in astronomy isn't just something we celebrate during February - it is fundamental to who we are and how we succeed.
Public Outreach
This year, Professor James Davenport has taken on the role of Faculty Director for Outreach in the Department of Astronomy. Under his leadership, and along with the efforts of many dedicated Ph.D. students, postdocs and undergraduates, our department continues to sponsor a wide range of events and programs that connect astronomers to the local community. We are working hard to improve our programs and upgrade our public-facing facilities, so look for new and exciting events coming soon!
Astronomy on Tap - 4th Wednesdays of the Month, 7-9PM
https://astro.washington.edu/astronomy-tap
We’re so grateful for the amazing community support for AoT Seattle! You can help us get new projectors to support these free shows at our crowdfunding page
The UW Mobile Planetarium
https://astro.washington.edu/uw-mobile-planetarium
Our student-led mobile planetarium visits schools throughout the Seattle area.
The UW Planetarium hosts visiting groups almost every Friday and will soon restart our popular monthly public evening shows!
https://astro.washington.edu/uw-planetarium
Open House Nights at Jacobsen Observatory
https://astro.washington.edu/jacobsen-observatory
We’re currently closed for the Winter and are looking forward to opening the historic observatory again starting in April.
Supporting Our UW Astronomy Community
The strength of UW Astronomy lies in our extended network of supporters, alumni, and friends who share our vision of mutual support in astronomical research and education. Our community building events, student support initiatives, and efforts to make astronomy more accessible require sustained commitment - both in energy and resources. As we face unprecedented challenges to scientific institutions, building robust networks of support becomes even more critical.
You can help ensure the continuation of our vital community programs by contributing to our featured funds on this page. Your support enables us to host events that bring our community together, provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds, and maintain the strong departmental culture that makes UW Astronomy a leader in both scientific excellence and institutional change.
Together, we can ensure that the next generation of astronomers has the resources and support they need to unlock the mysteries of our Universe - from mapping the cosmic web to discovering potentially habitable worlds among the stars.
Group Meetings/Regular Events
RAGE - Ruminating About Galaxy Evolution in the Early Universe – contacts: Gourav Khullar and Arianna Long - Fridays 1:30pm - 2:30pm in PAB B305
CALM - Conversing about Local Matter – contact: Arpit Arora - Tuesdays 10am every other week in PAB B305
DIGG - Diffuse Inter Gas Group - contacts: Bonni Choi, Sam Garza, and Jess Werk Thursdays 1pm - 2pm –- every other week in PAB B305
Capheine - contact: Charlie Willard - Fridays 11am - 12pm PAB C341
DUSC – Dark Universe Science Center - contact: Matt McQuinn, journal club from 2:30-3:30 pm on Wednesdays in 6th floor meeting room of PAB, as well as a ~monthly seminar in PAB C421 at 3pm on Thursdays
Astronomy Journal Club - Fridays 2:30 - 3:30pm, B305 – contact: Scott Anderson (Winter)
Astronomy Department Colloquium - Thursdays 3:30pm - 4pm, cookies at 3pm in PAA 102
Tuesday Lunch Talks - contact: Yakov Faerman - Tuesdays 12pm - 1pm, PAB B305
Astrobiology 25th Anniversary Lecture Series – contacts: Vikki Meadows and Megan Gialluca - Wednesdays in April, 7pm Kane Hall 120
DiRAC Time Domain Group - contacts: Eric Bellm and James Davenport - Thursdays at 1pm, PAB B356
DiRAC Solar System Group – contact: Mario Juric - Fridays at 1pm, PAB B356
Additional Community Resources
Food Pantry
The UW Food Pantry provides free food and hygiene products to any UW student, staff, or faculty member in need. They accept donations of shelf-stable items and hygiene products from individuals at their Poplar Hall location during opening hours.
Any Hungry Husky Food Pantry
Know Your Rights
Understanding your rights is essential for all community members. These resources provide comprehensive information about individual rights, campus policies, and legal protections.
UW Public Safety Office - Know Your Rights
ACLU Washington - Know Your Rights
Diversity and Inclusion Resources
Resources to support diversity and inclusion efforts in astronomy and STEM fields:
TEAM-UP Report - Comprehensive report addressing systemic barriers for underrepresented minorities in physics and astronomy
Black Lives in Astronomy Resource Guide - Extensive resource guide on Black astronomers ranging from blogs and feature articles to historical information
Astrobites: How to Support Black Astronomers - Practical guidance for supporting Black astronomers in academic and professional settings
AAS Task Force Report on Diversity and Inclusion (2018) - Recommendations and findings on improving diversity and inclusion in astronomy
Educational Resources
UW Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring - Professional development workshops, teaching resources, and pedagogical training opportunities
Leadership Without Borders Undocu Ally Training – This program provides UW faculty and staff with resources and best practices to build a supportive environment for undocumented students.