Outreach

In addition to my academic interests, I am also deeply passionate about community outreach and service, academic or otherwise, through which I have found some of my most enriching experiences and communities at UVa. Below are a sample of outreach and service efforts in which I play an active role.

Pictured: The press release image projected onto my face!

Credit: Emily Faith Morgan (University Communications), from this article

Media Coverage of JWST Observations of Sgr C

I acted as the primary scientific advisor for an international press release with NASA and STScI on the JWST images of Sgr C produced by my PI program (see the 'Research' tab). This release was picked up by over 600 news outlets and earned a potential readership (estimated by STScI) of ~4 billion people! The press release image, produced by STScI, is the banner of this site.

Highlights include articles from Space.com, CNN, CBS, Mashable, MSN, Popular Science, National Geographic (China), and Smithsonian Magazine

I also helped coordinate and personally appeared in several pieces at UVa, including in the University publication UVa Today, student newspaper Cavalier Daily, Arts & Sciences Communications, a podcast episode with UVA mathematics professor (and Super Bowl commercial star) Ken Ono, and even a shout-out from UVA president Jim Ryan.

Pictured: UVA Astronomy Club (with the club flag!) on a foggy morning at Green Bank Observatory in April 2023.

Credit: Matthew Sung

Astronomy Club at UVa

I was the president of the Astronomy Club at UVa, an outreach organization dedicated to broadening the exposure, public awareness, and appreciation for astronomy at UVa, during 2023-2024 school year. Previously, I served as the Treasurer and Vice President during the 2022-2023 school year. The group hosts dozens of events per semester, including movie nights, observatory visits, field trips, stargazing, and other social events. 

In April 2024, during my tenure as president, I aided and oversaw a large public outreach event in Zanesfield, Ohio, for the total solar eclipse in April 2024. We brought ~50 UVA students to a childrens' summer camp in Zanesfield to provide eclipse viewers, telescope viewing (with solar filters!), and education on eclipse safety and general astronomy to hundreds of participants.

Forestry Club at UVa

I am the current Vice President (and served previously as VP during the 2023-2024 school year) of the Forestry Club at UVa, a community service organization that regularly collaborates with local park rangers and staff to maintain parks in the Charlottesville, the larger Albemarle County area, and throughout Virginia. Our work includes invasive species removal, trail clearing, construction projects, and general park maintenance. Even better, we are known for our excellent cooking, and our appointed club chef provides homemade meals at every meeting! With the organization, I have conducted ~200 hours of community service time since my first semester at UVa. 

Pictured: UVA Forestry Club at Holliday Lake State Park in November 2022

Credit: Samuel Crowe

Credit: CORE Instagram page (@coreatuva)

Culture of Respect Educators at UVa

Since fall 2021, I have been an active member in the Culture of Respect Educators (CORE) at UVa, a peer education and advocacy group dedicated to addressing and reducing sexual violence and assault on campus. With the organization I have given several dozen presentations to various student groups (primarily first year students) on topics including consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, history of sexual violence at UVa, survivor support, and healthy masculinity.