If you’ve read my bio or seen my past blog posts, you’ll notice I am very passionate about science and education. If you haven’t, that's OK — I’ll fill you in. I love science because of how romantic it can be. The idea that there is an infinite cosmos or that there are single-cell organisms wows me. It blows my mind that we have been to the moon and mapped Mars when only a few hundred years ago Lewis and Clark were exploring the vast wilderness of North America. As such, it has been a longstanding desire of mine to share my enthusiasm for science. I want to teach people why science is so fantastic and make them equally excited and awed by the world around us.

 

If it wasn’t for my professors, I might never have connected my interests of education and science. I knew in high school that I loved to present and I know that teaching comes naturally to me, but I had never thought about applying those skills towards a subject I love so much. My astronomy professor pointed me in the right direction. Aligning my passions of presenting and astronomy, she suggested I volunteer at the Treworgy Planetarium, part of the nearby Mystic Seaport. She recommended me to the director of the planetarium and, within a few weeks, I was learning how to give my own shows. 

 

While we have telescopes and viewing opportunities on campus, having a planetarium near the College is an incredible resource. The night sky not only allows us to understand the history of cultures on Earth, but also helps us understand the origins of our solar system, stars and much more. I don't believe any education is complete without an understanding of what is above us at all times. We often get trapped in our little worlds as we go about our day-to-day life, and it is important to look up and realize what is just beyond our grasp.

 

After watching two shows every Saturday for the past three weeks, I’m beginning to get the hang of things. This Saturday will be my first solo show in the Treworgy Planetarium. I’ll be giving half of a 35-minute performance (as I like to call them). I plan on making my shows theatrical in nature, as those seem to be the performances that grip people the most. I’ll be doing so in a way that takes the audience on a journey through the stars.