Mines Hosts Virtual Talk on the History of Women in Astronomy for Women’s History Month

South Dakota Mines will host Caroline Simpson, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Physics at Florida International University for a talk on the history of women in the science of astronomy at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, on Zoom.

Simpson received her Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Florida in 1995. She joined Florida International University's Department of Physics that same year, where she is now a full professor. In 2016, she was awarded the Richard H. Emmons Award for Excellence in College Astronomy Teaching by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Simpson's research is on star formation in dwarf galaxies, with an emphasis on the atomic hydrogen gas which is the initial building block for stars. Star formation is how galaxies evolve, and because dwarf galaxies are the most abundant type of galaxy in the universe, her work on star formation in dwarf galaxies adds to the understanding of the evolution of the universe.

Those interested can join her talk at 2 p.m. on March 29 via Zoom here.