studying science changed me and it allows me to make contributions into the
allows me to make contributions into the
allows me to make contributions into the world and everyone regardless of their
world and everyone regardless of their
world and everyone regardless of their identity should have that right we
identity should have that right we
identity should have that right we cannot get to the best possible
cannot get to the best possible
cannot get to the best possible expiration whether it’s on this planet
expiration whether it’s on this planet
expiration whether it’s on this planet or beyond if we don’t have the totality
or beyond if we don’t have the totality
or beyond if we don’t have the totality of people in the room to contribute to
of people in the room to contribute to
of people in the room to contribute to the conversation I am going to be an
the conversation I am going to be an
the conversation I am going to be an astrophysicist now wasn’t quite that
astrophysicist now wasn’t quite that
astrophysicist now wasn’t quite that loud and probably not that confident
loud and probably not that confident
loud and probably not that confident when I was sitting in the library as a
when I was sitting in the library as a
when I was sitting in the library as a twelve year old girl and I figured out
twelve year old girl and I figured out
twelve year old girl and I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up I
what I wanted to be when I grew up I
what I wanted to be when I grew up I wanted to be an astrophysicist and with
wanted to be an astrophysicist and with
wanted to be an astrophysicist and with such an earth rending discovery the
such an earth rending discovery the
such an earth rending discovery the first thing I had to do was run back to
first thing I had to do was run back to
first thing I had to do was run back to base camp and tell everyone there so I
base camp and tell everyone there so I
base camp and tell everyone there so I burped I ran home burst in the door said
burped I ran home burst in the door said
burped I ran home burst in the door said mom I could be an astrophysicist when I
mom I could be an astrophysicist when I
mom I could be an astrophysicist when I grow up I’m so excited is one of the
grow up I’m so excited is one of the
grow up I’m so excited is one of the first times in life that I had
first times in life that I had
first times in life that I had compellingly connected my identity and
compellingly connected my identity and
compellingly connected my identity and my interests so I looked up at her and I
my interests so I looked up at her and I
my interests so I looked up at her and I waited with bated breath to hear what
waited with bated breath to hear what
waited with bated breath to hear what she’s gonna say and she said okay well
she’s gonna say and she said okay well
she’s gonna say and she said okay well let’s do it then and we were off to the
let’s do it then and we were off to the
let’s do it then and we were off to the races that was one of the most critical
races that was one of the most critical
races that was one of the most critical moments in my life because she confirmed
moments in my life because she confirmed
moments in my life because she confirmed right in that moment with her
right in that moment with her
right in that moment with her unflinching unwavering support that who
unflinching unwavering support that who
unflinching unwavering support that who I was and what I wanted to be were
I was and what I wanted to be were
I was and what I wanted to be were perfectly compatible and that there were
perfectly compatible and that there were
perfectly compatible and that there were well within the realm of possibility and
well within the realm of possibility and
well within the realm of possibility and sure I’ve had role models since then
sure I’ve had role models since then
sure I’ve had role models since then like dr. May Jemison and dr. Becky Brown
like dr. May Jemison and dr. Becky Brown
like dr. May Jemison and dr. Becky Brown both black women astronaut and
both black women astronaut and
both black women astronaut and astrophysicist but that first moment
astrophysicist but that first moment
astrophysicist but that first moment with my mom I’m sure is what set me on
with my mom I’m sure is what set me on
with my mom I’m sure is what set me on the course from that moment to this now
the course from that moment to this now
the course from that moment to this now it wasn’t until much later that she told
it wasn’t until much later that she told
it wasn’t until much later that she told me that I when I ran in and told her
me that I when I ran in and told her
me that I when I ran in and told her what I wanted to be that she had zero
what I wanted to be that she had zero
what I wanted to be that she had zero idea what it surfaces was or what they
idea what it surfaces was or what they
idea what it surfaces was or what they did but she knew that if anyone could do
did but she knew that if anyone could do
did but she knew that if anyone could do it I could and I’m so thankful for that
it I could and I’m so thankful for that
it I could and I’m so thankful for that moment now it’s been roughly a couple
moment now it’s been roughly a couple
moment now it’s been roughly a couple decades and I did ultimately become an
decades and I did ultimately become an
decades and I did ultimately become an astrophysicist so I’m very excited to
astrophysicist so I’m very excited to
astrophysicist so I’m very excited to report
report
report so I’ll tell you a little bit today
so I’ll tell you a little bit today
so I’ll tell you a little bit today about my research on Blazers
about my research on Blazers
about my research on Blazers so Blazers what are they
so Blazers what are they
so Blazers what are they supermassive hyperactive black holes
supermassive hyperactive black holes
supermassive hyperactive black holes that sit at the center of galaxies I’m
that sit at the center of galaxies I’m
that sit at the center of galaxies I’m showing you here real data from the
showing you here real data from the
showing you here real data from the Hubble Space Telescope Ultra Deep Field
Hubble Space Telescope Ultra Deep Field
Hubble Space Telescope Ultra Deep Field everything you see here is a galaxy
everything you see here is a galaxy
everything you see here is a galaxy every single galaxy we now believe has a
every single galaxy we now believe has a
every single galaxy we now believe has a supermassive black hole at its core
supermassive black hole at its core
supermassive black hole at its core pretty much you know most of these black
pretty much you know most of these black
pretty much you know most of these black holes are going about the business of
holes are going about the business of
holes are going about the business of being black holes eating things doing
being black holes eating things doing
being black holes eating things doing the normal black hole things but there
the normal black hole things but there
the normal black hole things but there is a special class of them that’s doing
is a special class of them that’s doing
is a special class of them that’s doing a little bit more these are called
a little bit more these are called
a little bit more these are called quasars they are gargantuan championship
quasars they are gargantuan championship
quasars they are gargantuan championship eaters in the black hole taxonomy there
eaters in the black hole taxonomy there
eaters in the black hole taxonomy there are millions to billions of times of our
are millions to billions of times of our
are millions to billions of times of our own Sun and are taking on a thousand
own Sun and are taking on a thousand
own Sun and are taking on a thousand times more than the humdrum black holes
times more than the humdrum black holes
times more than the humdrum black holes like the ones at the center of our
like the ones at the center of our
like the ones at the center of our galaxy so they are bringing in tons and
galaxy so they are bringing in tons and
galaxy so they are bringing in tons and tons of material while the black hole
tons of material while the black hole
tons of material while the black hole itself is black you kiddin nothing is
itself is black you kiddin nothing is
itself is black you kiddin nothing is escaping it what you see around it are
escaping it what you see around it are
escaping it what you see around it are the SOS signals the death gas was a
the SOS signals the death gas was a
the SOS signals the death gas was a material as it’s being pulled into that
material as it’s being pulled into that
material as it’s being pulled into that black hole beyond that some of these
black hole beyond that some of these
black hole beyond that some of these quasars have these Jets we’ll talk about
quasars have these Jets we’ll talk about
quasars have these Jets we’ll talk about that in just a second I have these jets
that in just a second I have these jets
that in just a second I have these jets that are ejecting material out of this
that are ejecting material out of this
that are ejecting material out of this out of near the central source that are
out of near the central source that are
out of near the central source that are going roughly the speed of light so
going roughly the speed of light so
going roughly the speed of light so these are really the championship most
these are really the championship most
these are really the championship most powerful sources in our universe I study
powerful sources in our universe I study
powerful sources in our universe I study blazed ours which are blazing quasars so
blazed ours which are blazing quasars so
blazed ours which are blazing quasars so you take this quasar that’s doing the
you take this quasar that’s doing the
you take this quasar that’s doing the fad you see we’re building a story here
fad you see we’re building a story here
fad you see we’re building a story here come along with me where do the blazing
come along with me where do the blazing
come along with me where do the blazing quasars right so now you take this jet
quasars right so now you take this jet
quasars right so now you take this jet that’s moving at 99.99% of the speed of
that’s moving at 99.99% of the speed of
that’s moving at 99.99% of the speed of light and you point it at the earth got
light and you point it at the earth got
light and you point it at the earth got really quiet you play at the earth you
really quiet you play at the earth you
really quiet you play at the earth you should not be afraid though these are
should not be afraid though these are
should not be afraid though these are cosmological distances so we are not in
cosmological distances so we are not in
cosmological distances so we are not in any danger this is just a benefit of the
any danger this is just a benefit of the
any danger this is just a benefit of the observational positioning so we care
observational positioning so we care
observational positioning so we care about these because they’re pointed ass
about these because they’re pointed ass
about these because they’re pointed ass so what you want to do is understand how
so what you want to do is understand how
so what you want to do is understand how these Jets work so I’m going to show you
these Jets work so I’m going to show you
these Jets work so I’m going to show you a video in just a second about how the
a video in just a second about how the
a video in just a second about how the blazar system works how blackhole pulls
blazar system works how blackhole pulls
blazar system works how blackhole pulls on material and then how we think it
on material and then how we think it
on material and then how we think it creates a jet now this is
creates a jet now this is
creates a jet now this is not real data this is magic it’s an
not real data this is magic it’s an
not real data this is magic it’s an artist conception but I wanted you to
artist conception but I wanted you to
artist conception but I wanted you to see so you have a picture in your mind
see so you have a picture in your mind
see so you have a picture in your mind as we’re going through this story so
as we’re going through this story so
as we’re going through this story so what you’re going to see is a black hole
what you’re going to see is a black hole
what you’re going to see is a black hole with an accretion disk surrounding it
with an accretion disk surrounding it
with an accretion disk surrounding it that’s how material falls onto the black
that’s how material falls onto the black
that’s how material falls onto the black hole then the jet shoots out material
hole then the jet shoots out material
hole then the jet shoots out material and then we’re gonna zoom out of that
and then we’re gonna zoom out of that
and then we’re gonna zoom out of that and we’ll see that we’re sitting in the
and we’ll see that we’re sitting in the
and we’ll see that we’re sitting in the middle of a galaxy and the thing I want
middle of a galaxy and the thing I want
middle of a galaxy and the thing I want you to notice about that jet is that
you to notice about that jet is that
you to notice about that jet is that it’s not continuous it sort of got
it’s not continuous it sort of got
it’s not continuous it sort of got particles and material in it so the idea
particles and material in it so the idea
particles and material in it so the idea of a thing we want to figure out is how
of a thing we want to figure out is how
of a thing we want to figure out is how does this jet work how do we understand
does this jet work how do we understand
does this jet work how do we understand nature’s particle accelerator how do you
nature’s particle accelerator how do you
nature’s particle accelerator how do you get things moving that fast
get things moving that fast
get things moving that fast they start off moving relatively slow
they start off moving relatively slow
they start off moving relatively slow like water going down a dis train and
like water going down a dis train and
like water going down a dis train and then they start to speed up these speeds
then they start to speed up these speeds
then they start to speed up these speeds that’s the question so what we found in
that’s the question so what we found in
that’s the question so what we found in our group is that on some level and in
our group is that on some level and in
our group is that on some level and in some of these huge ejections of material
some of these huge ejections of material
some of these huge ejections of material the technical term is actually blobs
the technical term is actually blobs
the technical term is actually blobs which i think is the coolest thing ever
which i think is the coolest thing ever
which i think is the coolest thing ever you can constrain the kind of fits you
you can constrain the kind of fits you
you can constrain the kind of fits you can decide you can limit what kinds of
can decide you can limit what kinds of
can decide you can limit what kinds of things can actually be possible so
things can actually be possible so
things can actually be possible so that’s the actual like research that I
that’s the actual like research that I
that’s the actual like research that I do but in doing it I realize that
do but in doing it I realize that
do but in doing it I realize that research is not done in a vacuum and
research is not done in a vacuum and
research is not done in a vacuum and that in fact it was sort of an oddity
that in fact it was sort of an oddity
that in fact it was sort of an oddity that I was the one doing the work so I
that I was the one doing the work so I
that I was the one doing the work so I started to think about that and wonder
started to think about that and wonder
started to think about that and wonder how is it that we can make stem or
how is it that we can make stem or
how is it that we can make stem or science technology engineering and
science technology engineering and
science technology engineering and mathematics more inclusive studying
mathematics more inclusive studying
mathematics more inclusive studying science changed me and it allows me to
science changed me and it allows me to
science changed me and it allows me to make contributions into the world and
make contributions into the world and
make contributions into the world and everyone regardless of their identity
everyone regardless of their identity
everyone regardless of their identity should have that right so when I started
should have that right so when I started
should have that right so when I started thinking about well how could I do this
thinking about well how could I do this
thinking about well how could I do this and who would I start with and I decided
and who would I start with and I decided
and who would I start with and I decided to start with those with intersectional
to start with those with intersectional
to start with those with intersectional identities that is identities that
identities that is identities that
identities that is identities that overlap so I chose to look into women of
overlap so I chose to look into women of
overlap so I chose to look into women of color who want to pursue STEM degrees so
color who want to pursue STEM degrees so
color who want to pursue STEM degrees so I started an online web series which you
I started an online web series which you
I started an online web series which you can go and check out called Vanguard
can go and check out called Vanguard
can go and check out called Vanguard conversations with women of color and
conversations with women of color and
conversations with women of color and stem we meet about once a month and we
stem we meet about once a month and we
stem we meet about once a month and we talk about all kinds of things it’s a
talk about all kinds of things it’s a
talk about all kinds of things it’s a pretty informal place but the idea is to
pretty informal place but the idea is to
pretty informal place but the idea is to confirm and affirm identity and interest
confirm and affirm identity and interest
confirm and affirm identity and interest that there’s no preferred combination of
that there’s no preferred combination of
that there’s no preferred combination of those two and that anyone could be
those two and that anyone could be
those two and that anyone could be anything they want
anything they want
anything they want so I host the show and it’s a group of
so I host the show and it’s a group of
so I host the show and it’s a group of rotating panel so we have a bunch of
rotating panel so we have a bunch of
rotating panel so we have a bunch of women of color
women of color
women of color all kinds of different fields from
all kinds of different fields from
all kinds of different fields from graduate all the way up to Dean’s of
graduate all the way up to Dean’s of
graduate all the way up to Dean’s of colleges that tell us about their
colleges that tell us about their
colleges that tell us about their experience they tell us about their
experience they tell us about their
experience they tell us about their expertise and they give us advice about
expertise and they give us advice about
expertise and they give us advice about how to do this process even better in
how to do this process even better in
how to do this process even better in this way we’re trying to form and submit
this way we’re trying to form and submit
this way we’re trying to form and submit community so that no one feels alone or
community so that no one feels alone or
community so that no one feels alone or other because of who they are and what
other because of who they are and what
other because of who they are and what they want to do we decided that there
they want to do we decided that there
they want to do we decided that there was so much interest that we wanted to
was so much interest that we wanted to
was so much interest that we wanted to do even more so not just meet once a
do even more so not just meet once a
do even more so not just meet once a month and have this conversation but
month and have this conversation but
month and have this conversation but really start to build community and it
really start to build community and it
really start to build community and it would be important that that community
would be important that that community
would be important that that community be virtual because we’re spread so many
be virtual because we’re spread so many
be virtual because we’re spread so many places across the country and across the
places across the country and across the
places across the country and across the globe so now we built a team and we are
globe so now we built a team and we are
globe so now we built a team and we are planning to make Vanguard stem the go-to
planning to make Vanguard stem the go-to
planning to make Vanguard stem the go-to premiere destination for stem identity
premiere destination for stem identity
premiere destination for stem identity in women of color and stem so here’s an
in women of color and stem so here’s an
in women of color and stem so here’s an example of some of our recent content
example of some of our recent content
example of some of our recent content it’s created and curated by women of
it’s created and curated by women of
it’s created and curated by women of color and stem so we get their vantage
color and stem so we get their vantage
color and stem so we get their vantage point you’re welcome to join us come
point you’re welcome to join us come
point you’re welcome to join us come visit support any way you want to engage
visit support any way you want to engage
visit support any way you want to engage but this is a safe space for us to
but this is a safe space for us to
but this is a safe space for us to investigate those things that come up in
investigate those things that come up in
investigate those things that come up in our minds this idea that interest and
our minds this idea that interest and
our minds this idea that interest and identity are related and can be in any
identity are related and can be in any
identity are related and can be in any combination is an important concept but
combination is an important concept but
combination is an important concept but I’m not saying this by way of asking to
I’m not saying this by way of asking to
I’m not saying this by way of asking to join the club
join the club
join the club I’m saying it because we cannot get to
I’m saying it because we cannot get to
I’m saying it because we cannot get to the best possible exploration whether
the best possible exploration whether
the best possible exploration whether it’s on this planet or beyond if we
it’s on this planet or beyond if we
it’s on this planet or beyond if we don’t have the totality of people in the
don’t have the totality of people in the
don’t have the totality of people in the room to contribute to the conversation
room to contribute to the conversation
room to contribute to the conversation so if we want to get to our best
so if we want to get to our best
so if we want to get to our best possible successes our best possible
possible successes our best possible
possible successes our best possible discoveries then everyone has to be at
discoveries then everyone has to be at
discoveries then everyone has to be at the table so let’s explore thank you
”
Be First to Comment