Education | Profiles | Science | UW News blog
June 15, 2021
UW astronomer Emily Levesque delivers her course Great Heroes and Discoveries of Astronomy as part of The Great Courses, a popular online learning platform.The Teaching Company
If you look on Emily Levesques website, youll notice that one punctuation mark is prominent: the exclamation point. Classifying massive stars with machine learning! reads one blog post. Gravitational waves from Thorne-Zytkow objects! reads another.
My default state is exclamation point, said Levesque, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Washington. When were talking about space and were talking about science, how could you not?
Now Levesque is bringing that enthusiasm to The Great Courses, an online learning platform offering classes to the general public on a range of topics, from playing guitar to decoding Egyptian hieroglyphics. Levesques course, Great Heroes and Discoveries of Astronomy, takes viewers on a tour of the biggest advancements in one of humanitys oldest sciences and the people behind them.
This course, which launched in February, came six months after Levesques popular science book on the history of observational astronomy, The Last Stargazers. The course consists of 24 lectures and covers the work of some scientists you may be familiar with, like Albert Einstein, Carl Sagan and Edwin Hubble, and others who might be new to you.
Those names include Henrietta Swann Leavitt. She was one of the Harvard computers, the team of women who processed astronomical data work made famous by the film Hidden Figures. Leavitts research on measuring the distances to stars laid the groundwork for Hubbles assertion that the universe is expanding. George Carruthers was an African American scientist who patented an ultraviolet camera and built the only telescope weve taken to the moon. Vera Rubin discovered dark matter; today an entire subfield of astrophysics is devoted to studying it. An enormous telescope in Chile is now named after her.
The course pokes at our idea of what a scientific hero is, Levesque said. Theres this stereotype that science is done by a white man alone in a room, coming up with an idea and then just spitting it out full formed into the universe.
This stereotype overlooks the collaborative nature of science, something Levesques course highlights. Breakthroughs can result from the efforts of a dozen scientists doing work that builds off each other over time, or from heroic efforts by teams of thousands. Levesque teaches a unit on the discovery of gravitational waves; the gravitational wave detector in Washington, part of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, took thousands of people to build and takes thousands to maintain.
Levesque also broadens the definition of heroism to include acts like improving access to astronomy, making it more inclusive and bringing science literacy to the public.
One lecture tells the story of Frank Kameny, an astronomer in the U.S. Army Map Service. Months after he was hired in 1957, Kameny was fired when he refused to answer questions about his sexual orientation. He filed a lawsuit against the federal government, the first alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation in a U.S. court. Although it was unsuccessful, Kameny went on to become a leader in the fight for LGBTQ rights.
Its a really important time right now to remember that science is done by people, said Levesque. I dont think understanding science and understanding the human nature behind the discoveries we make has ever been more important. The human side of scientists cant be separated from the science that they do.
The human side of scientists not only affects their work, but it also shapes narratives around science. Stories we tell about scientific heroes and discoveries are often what makes science memorable. If the stories about people are interesting, then learning about the science will follow.
Levesque remembers, as a teen, reading the book A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts by Andrew Chaiken, about the early space program. She loved learning about the astronauts and the people in mission control. She was already a space geek, but reading about the fun they were having, identifying with them and seeing the creative problem-solving behind the science enabled her to picture what it would be like to work in astronomy.
Stories have the power to inspire or when the narrative is skewed or told from a singular point of view they can send a message about who does or doesnt belong. Thats why expanding the definition of a scientific hero beyond the stereotype is so important.
Levesque says her colleagues are a broad mix of people. They are ultramarathoners. They play in bands. They have a broad range of interests but have one thing in common: a love for space. More women are entering the field, but the low number of scientists from underrepresented groups like the Black and Latino communities shows there is still a ways to go when it comes to making astronomy more inclusive.
But if a broader range of stories are told, then more people will be able to envision themselves doing the work. And that will result in better science.
Its always worth reminding people when you talk about scientific heroism that you need heaps of people to do this work, Levesque said. Unique contributions can come from having a different perspective on a problem or other areas of expertise that a scientist can draw on. You need all sorts of talents and skill sets and enthusiastic folks who want to make science a part of their lives thats the ingredient, thats the way to do science.
Read more:
UW astronomer redefines the scientific hero as part of The Great Courses - UW News
- UCLA Division of Astronomy & Astrophysics - July 8th, 2022
- Stellar Lifetimes - Georgia State University - July 8th, 2022
- A Mile Underground in The Quest for Dark Matter - UMass News and Media Relations - July 8th, 2022
- James Bardeen, an Expert on Unraveling Einsteins Equations, Dies at 83 - The New York Times - July 8th, 2022
- How cold is space? Physics behind the temperature of the universe - Space.com - July 8th, 2022
- Record number of UF faculty earn National Science Foundation awards - University of Florida - July 8th, 2022
- Red supergiant stars 'dance' because they have too much gas - Livescience.com - July 8th, 2022
- What is astrophysics? - Big Think - January 25th, 2022
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics job with AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (ANU) | 278733 - Times Higher Education... - January 25th, 2022
- Institute Coordinator - Department of Astrophysics job with UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA | 278512 - Times Higher Education (THE) - January 25th, 2022
- Housed at Rochester, the Flash Center advances cutting-edge physics research - University of Rochester - January 25th, 2022
- Astronomers Find the Biggest Structure in the Milky Way: Filament of Hydrogen 3,900 Light-Years Long - SciTechDaily - January 25th, 2022
- Going beyond the exascale | symmetry magazine - Symmetry magazine - January 25th, 2022
- 'Hear the Stars': Nathan Randall Green's abstractions of astrophysical concepts - The Stanford Daily - January 25th, 2022
- 11 Trailblazing Female Scientists That You Need to Know - My Modern Met - January 25th, 2022
- A New Map of the Suns Local Bubble - The New York Times - January 25th, 2022
- Global Air Cargo Security Control System Market 2021 Trending Technologies and Major Players: 3DX-RAY, American Science and Engineering, Astrophysics,... - January 25th, 2022
- meteor? No, the phenomenon in the sky of Tras-os-Montes was a SpaceX satellite - brytfmonline.com - January 25th, 2022
- Planetary conjunction: Mars, Venus, Moon set to align on July 12-13 - Hindustan Times - July 12th, 2021
- Venus, Mars and crescent moon to align in 'planetary conjunction' during 12-13 July - Firstpost - July 12th, 2021
- Stars and Galaxies . Seeing Some Cosmic X-Ray Emitters Might Be a Matter of Perspective - Jet Propulsion Laboratory - July 12th, 2021
- Worlds largest telescope will see better with Irish technology - The Irish Times - July 12th, 2021
- Researchers Discover Orbital Patterns of Trans-Neptunian Objects Vary Based on Their Color - SciTechDaily - July 12th, 2021
- Taught skills needed for the space sector the space sector - Open Access Government - July 12th, 2021
- NASA will attempt a 'risky' maneuver to fix its broken Hubble Space Telescope as early as next week - Business Insider - July 12th, 2021
- Astronomical Telescope Market Consumption Analysis, Business Overview and Upcoming Trends|Celestron, Meade, Vixen Optics, TAKAHASHI, ASTRO-PHYSICS,... - June 15th, 2021
- Astrophysicists Surprised by Unexpected Effect of Black Holes Beyond Their Own Galaxies - SciTechDaily - June 15th, 2021
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Physics job with DURHAM UNIVERSITY | 257296 - Times Higher Education (THE) - June 15th, 2021
- Enormous strands of galaxies in the cosmic web appear to be spinning - New Scientist News - June 15th, 2021
- CU the site of one of the last government-commissioned reports on UFOs. What does it say? - CU Boulder Today - June 15th, 2021
- Saint Bernard's track and field athlete, Eagle Scout to study astrophysics at Villanova - theday.com - June 15th, 2021
- Looking at the stars, or falling by the wayside? How astronomy is failing female scientists - Space.com - June 15th, 2021
- Astronomy Professor Develops Innovative Medical Imaging Device - The College Today - June 15th, 2021
- Making space commonplace: U of T startup works with NASA on low-cost exoplanet research - News@UofT - June 15th, 2021
- Security Inspection Equipment Market Share by Manufacturer (Astrophysics, Smiths Detection, Garrett, CEIA, Rapiscan Systems) COVID-19 Impact and... - June 15th, 2021
- Exoplanets And Icy Moons Among Major Themes Of European Space - Forbes - June 15th, 2021
- Reflection Telescope Market Statistics, Facts, Key Players and Forecast by 2026 | Celestron, Meade, Vixen Optics, TAKAHASHI, ASTRO-PHYSICS KSU | The... - February 10th, 2021
- Comments on: Puzzling Astrophysics of Quasars in the Early Universe - SciTechDaily - February 10th, 2021
- Student astronomer finds galactic missing matter - News - The University of Sydney - February 10th, 2021
- Program Director, Moore Experimental Physics Investigator Initiative in Palo Alto , CA for Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation - Physics - February 10th, 2021
- The Woman Who Knew The Stars - ZME Science - February 10th, 2021
- Cosmos mapping project tied to YSU | News, Sports, Jobs - Youngstown Vindicator - February 10th, 2021
- Op-ed | Space weather bill will fizzle without funding - SpaceNews - February 10th, 2021
- How Andrei Linde Redefined the Universe - The Atlantic - February 10th, 2021
- 207's Best In Academic Achievement Named For February - Journal & Topics Newspapers Online - February 10th, 2021
- Life on Venus? The Picture Gets Cloudier - The New York Times - February 10th, 2021
- St. Mary's College Board of Trustees Approves Academic Program Changes for Fall 2021 - The Southern Maryland Chronicle - February 10th, 2021
- Widespread Report on the Global Refracting Telescope Market 2020-2028 with the Leading Players Celestron, Vixen Optics, ASTRO-PHYSICS, ORION, Barska,... - September 8th, 2020
- UK Part of New NSF Physics Frontier Center Focused on Neutron Star Modeling in 'Gravitational Wave Era' - UKNow - September 8th, 2020
- University subject profile: physics - The Guardian - September 8th, 2020
- This triple star system warped the protoplanetary discs around it, new research says - CTV News - September 8th, 2020
- Scientists discover first 'intermediate-mass' black hole in massive merger - Big Think - September 8th, 2020
- Looking skin deep at the growth of neutron stars - Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom - September 8th, 2020
- Scientists detect massive galactic collision between black holes that "aren't supposed to exist" - Boing Boing - September 8th, 2020
- China's secretive 'space plane' makes successful return to Earth - CNET - September 8th, 2020
- New High-Res Images of The Sun Show How Creepy Sunspots Look in Closeup - ScienceAlert - September 6th, 2020
- The End of the Universe Will Probably Be Fairly Disappointing - WIRED - September 6th, 2020
- Zooming In Tight on Dark Matter Equivalent of Being Able to See a Flea on the Surface of the Moon - SciTechDaily - September 6th, 2020
- Indian astronomers discover one of the farthest star galaxies in universe - Livemint - September 6th, 2020
- Astronomers Spot a Black Hole so Massive They Werent Sure it Could Exist - Gizmodo Australia - September 6th, 2020
- Space discoveries that will blow your mind | News | helenair.com - Helena Independent Record - September 6th, 2020
- How neutrons and protons arrange themselves in the nucleus? - Tech Explorist - September 6th, 2020
- Warped gas disc torn apart by three stars directly observed for the first time - ZME Science - September 6th, 2020
- Kentucky by Heart: Many Kentuckians have made their mark in fields of science and technology - User-generated content - September 6th, 2020
- Q&A with Astrophysics Professor, Viktor Ambartsumian International Science Prize winner Adam Burrows - The Daily Princetonian - August 17th, 2020
- Astro Bob: Hubble helps solve the mystery of why Betelgeuse faded - Duluth News Tribune - August 17th, 2020
- The Alternative to Dark Matter May be General Relativity Itself - Astrobites - August 17th, 2020
- This is the way the universe ends: not with a whimper, but a bang - Science Magazine - August 17th, 2020
- The Week of August 17, 2020 - FYI: Science Policy News - August 17th, 2020
- Nearly $13 million in federal funding awarded to University of Rochester for Physics Frontier Center - WWTI - InformNNY.com - August 17th, 2020
- The Last Supernovae - Universe Today - August 17th, 2020
- Astronomers find Milky Way look-alike galaxy 12 billion light-years away - BusinessLine - August 17th, 2020
- Dark Matter Breakthrough Allows Probing Three of the Most Popular Theories, All at the Same Time - SciTechDaily - August 17th, 2020
- Exploding Black Dwarfs Could Be the 'Last Interesting Thing to Happen in the Universe' - Gizmodo UK - August 17th, 2020
- Security Inspection Equipment Market is slated to grow rapidly in the coming years Astrophysics, Smiths Detection, Garrett, C.E.I.A., Rapiscan Systems... - August 17th, 2020
- Lovely Professional Universitys Aerospace Engineering student wins international award - The Tribune India - August 17th, 2020
- Minecraft, Bollywood Dance, and Astrophysics Help College Students Connect With Kids Online - NBC Bay Area - August 10th, 2020
- UR #26: Improved Methods for Ground-Based Follow-Up of Young Stars and Planets from the ZEIT Survey - Astrobites - August 10th, 2020
- Investigating the far-flung reaches of the universe - Times Higher Education (THE) - August 10th, 2020
- Alien life bombshell: Scientist says we will find intelligent life 'within our lifetimes' - Daily Express - August 10th, 2020