Speaker: Dr. Briley Lewis, University of California, Santa Barbara

Host: Charles Kerton

Title: Debris Disks, Science Writing, and 3D-Printed Planetarium Shows

Abstract: Debris disks are the dusty remnants of planet formation around other stars, analogous to younger versions of our own solar system’s asteroid belts, which reveal processes of planet formation and evolution. In this "smorgasbord" talk, I'll discuss three projects—first, I'll present a new observing mode called NIRC2-Polarimetry on the W.M. Keck Observatory, which is useful for debris disk observations (and more!) and now currently open to the community for proposals. Next, I'll summarize the results of a large survey of U.S. physicists and astronomers looking into how scientists learn how to write in these fields, including recommendations for how to improve writing education in P&A. Lastly, I'll showcase best practices and new 3D-printed tactile materials for outreach with blind and low vision audiences. Astronomy is often a highly visual field, making it inaccessible to those with vision impairments; tactile adaptations of data can open the universe to these new audiences, including in planetarium shows.

Bio: Briley Lewis (she/her) is an NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is interested in high-contrast imaging and polarimetry, primarily focused on observations of debris disks and the development of astronomical instrumentation. Briley is currently working on observations of debris disks around late-type stars and a systematic re-analysis of scattered light imaging of debris disks from the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). She is also passionate about science communication and writing, particularly how we can improve disciplinary writing education in physics and astronomy, and accessible outreach.