A Beer Spectrometer and Other Adventures: Mailani Neal on Being an Instrument Scientist in Astronomy

Instrument scientists thrive on engineering and technology. Cherished characters from sci-fi might come to mind: Scotty. Geordi. B’Elanna. Kaylee. Add Mailani Neal to the list. A graduate student at New Mexico Tech, Mailani is working toward a PhD that will advance her to her goal of becoming an instrument scientist. She reflects that “it’s veryContinue reading “A Beer Spectrometer and Other Adventures: Mailani Neal on Being an Instrument Scientist in Astronomy”

Astronomy Supports Hawai‘i’s Community

In movies and TV, the practice of astronomy is sometimes represented as a solitary venture, isolated from the rest of society. To an extent this is true: the best observations take place in remote locations in order to avoid light pollution and other atmospheric and electromagnetic interference. That doesn’t mean that astronomers, as human beings,Continue reading “Astronomy Supports Hawai‘i’s Community”