Next Meeting: Friday, *** july 17th***

Our guest forJuly meeting will be Sheila Kannappan, a Professor Emeritus at UNC-CH. Dr. Kannappan will discuss the "Discovery Effect":

"We pursue astronomical discovery to satisfy our cravings for Truth and Awe. Unlike an astronaut's physical exploration of space, astronomical discovery explores space indirectly, using instrumentation, simulation, and imagination. Not all discovery is scientific; sensory, spiritual, and artistic discovery can be equally profound. I will argue that much like the "Overview Effect" experienced by astronauts, there is a "Discovery Effect" we can experience from the ground when we participate in -- and crucially, share participation in -- astronomical discovery.

"As an example, I will share the story of my team's discovery of abundant active black holes "hidden in plain sight" in dwarf galaxies, which received press coverage in at least 17 languages. Attendees will be invited to share their own discovery experiences -- scientific or personal -- and introduced to a discovery opportunity involving galaxies, black holes, and cosmic structure."

Sheila Kannappan is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UNC–Chapel Hill, where she continues to research galaxies, black holes, and cosmic structure. Before graduate school, she spent two years teaching 9th grade science in Rocky Mount, North Carolina through Teach for America. She earned a PhD in Physics and a Master’s degree in the History of Science from Harvard University, then spent six years as a postdoc at UT Austin before returning to North Carolina in 2007. Since retiring from teaching in 2024, she has devoted more time to travel, writing, and public speaking centered on sharing the experience of astronomical awe with broader audiences. 

NOTE: GAC meets at 7:30PM on the third Friday of the month. January through October meetings are held at the Greensboro Science Center; November and December meetings are held at alternate locations, due to schedule conflicts at GSC.