Forming Stars, Planets, and Scientists: Keck’s Transformative Role in Both Science and Education

The birth of stars is a complex and dynamic process, one that leads eventually to the formation of planets and possibly life. Yet we still know very little about the way in which the Universe turns a massive cloud of gas and dust into a stable Solar System like our own. Dr. Quinn Konopacky will describe our current understanding of the star formation process by highlighting the role that Keck has played in uncovering the mystery of star formation while also describing her personal journey with the observatory from a young student to a professional astronomer. Keck provides one of the world’s best training grounds for new generations of scientists, and Dr. Konopacky will highlight the unique ways that the observatory plays a key role in advancing both the science of star and planet formation and the education of students.  The staff and management of the W. M. Keck Observatory wish to offer our deepest gratitude to our Astronomy Talk Series sponsors, Rob and Terry Ryan.