‘Physics and Astronomy’
Bridging the gap: Combining music and astrophysics to improve representation in science
Feb. 27, 2024— As a child, Shaniya Jarrett was fascinated by space and science fiction, but didn’t believe that pursuing the big scientific questions of the universe was a viable career option. Now a second-year astrophysics graduate student in the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program, Shaniya is creating opportunities for young women of color that she would have...
Graduate student KeShawn Ivory on leadership team of Black in Astro
Jan. 26, 2023—The group recently won the Annie Maunder Medal for outreach or public engagement in astronomy or geophysics from the Royal Astronomical Society KeShawn Ivory, a second-year graduate student working toward a Ph.D. in astrophysics, is co-director of events for Black in Astro, an organization that celebrates and amplifies the Black experience in space-related fields. The...
Paving the Way: Developing future leaders in science
Feb. 11, 2022—On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, listen to some of our talented faculty describe how they’re helping to mold future generations of scientists and make the field more inclusive.
Former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen talks problem-solving, cross-cultural respect at physics colloquium
Apr. 20, 2021—The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen at an April 8 colloquium attended by students, faculty, and other members of the Vanderbilt community. In a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees, Bredesen shared the value of scientific frameworks for problem-solving and emphasized the need for cross-cultural respect in...
The Power of Mentoring: Susan Gessner Stewart, BS’90
Jul. 20, 2020—When Susan Gessner Stewart, BS’90, first came to the College of Arts and Science, her mind was firmly grounded on this planet—in the world of architecture, to be precise. Then a string of unexpected circumstances led her to the Department of Physics and Astronomy, where one professor’s mentoring changed the path of her life. Now...