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Home / 2019 / September / 04 / Astrophysicist tells how stars influence a planet’s suitability for life

Astrophysicist tells how stars influence a planet’s suitability for life

September 4, 2019

Astrophysicist and multimedia artist Lucianne Walkowicz.

New Worlds and New Life, part of the UBCO Distinguished Speaker Series

What: Planets and Stars: New Worlds and New Life, part of the UBCO Distinguished Speaker Series
Who: Lucianne Walkowicz, internationally acclaimed astrophysicist
When: Tuesday, October 1 at 7 p.m.
Where: Kelowna Community Theatre, 1375 Water Street, Kelowna, BC

We’ve all done it. Gazed into the skies on a starlit evening admiring the number of stars and their variety in brightness. Or perhaps shared thoughts of undiscovered planets that may sustain human life? But, have you ever wondered how scientists find planets and study stars in such a vast and distance space?

On Tuesday, October 1, UBCO hosts astrophysicist and multimedia artist Lucianne Walkowicz as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series.

Walkowicz has always been fascinated by the stars and began doing formal research at 17. She has since been part of several space missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s Kepler Mission. She holds a BS in Physics from Johns Hopkins University, as well as an MS and PhD from the University of Washington.

Working with the Kepler mission, she has found more than 3,500 potential new planets. The clue, she says, is to look for tiny dimming as a planet passes in front of its sun (also called a star).

“Every measurement Kepler makes is precious, because it’s teaching us about the relationship between stars and planets,” she says. “It’s really the starlight that sets the stage for the formation of life in the universe.”

In this passionate talk, Walkowicz sheds light on how the thousands of newly-discovered planetary systems might lead to the discovery of life beyond Earth, and how the future of our world depends on our connection to science.

Walkowicz has been internationally recognized for her advocacy for conservation of dark night skies. She works to empower people from all walks of life through scientific discovery, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, mentoring students, and developing citizen-science projects that put the tools of discovery in anyone’s hands.

The Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences’ Distinguished Speaker Series brings compelling speakers to the Okanagan to share their unique perspectives on issues that affect our region, our country and our world.

This event is free and open to the public, but online pre-registration is required. Early bird tickets open Monday, September 9 at 9 a.m. and a second round of tickets on Monday, September 23 at 9 a.m. To register visit: speakers.ok.ubc.ca

Media Contact

Patty Wellborn
Media Relations Strategist
University Relations

The University of British Columbia
Okanagan campus
Tel: 250 317 0293
E-mail: patty.wellborn@ubc.ca

Content type: Media Advisory
More content from: Irving K Barber School of Arts and Sciences (prior July 2020)

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About UBC Okanagan

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning founded in partnership with local Indigenous peoples, the Syilx Okanagan Nation, in whose traditional, ancestral and unceded territory the campus resides. The most established and influential global rankings all consistently place UBC in the top five per cent of universities in the world, and among the top three Canadian universities.

The Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world in British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. For more visit ok.ubc.ca.

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