Outreach

At Austin College’s Adams Observatory, we routinely offer public “star parties” on the roof of the IDEA Center.  The Adams Observatory houses one of the largest research telescopes in north Texas. Normally, a scientific CCD camera is attached to the telescope. During star parties, the camera is removed and an eyepiece is mounted to the main telescope. Depending on the night’s theme, visitors may observe celestial wonders as Orion’s Nebula (a birthplace of young stars), Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, or Saturn’s brilliant rings.

I really enjoy engaging with the community to talk about science in our everyday lives and at the far reaches of the cosmos. My public lectures include topics such as Summer Solstice at The Gnomon at Austin College, the Wild Weather of north Texas, and the Search for Another Earth (and an Opportunity to Save our Own.)

I have contributed to numerous local and national media stories — including KERA’s “Think” radio program and The Discovery Channel — on pressing topics involving weather, climate, and space. In support of our popular science book The 50 Most Extreme Places in Our Solar System, I have also participated in numerous public events and book signings, ranging from local elementary schools to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.