A Research Jamboree!

Astronomical Research Presentations

Here’s the challenge…

In two minutes (or less) explain your (often very complex) research topic to a group of your peers. Sound difficult? Well maybe, but that didn’t stop the astronomers who live and work on the Big Island of Hawai‘i from presenting at the first Hilo Research Jamboree.  A wide-range of topics from instrumentation, to the study of Active Galactic Nuclei (which, for non-astronomers, are supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies) to Kuiper belt objects were covered.  This informal style provided a unique opportunity for researchers to mingle with their peers, which can be difficult even though most work within the University of Hawaii’s Science and Technology Park!

“The Jamboree was a fantastic showcase of the active research being undertaken on the Big Island. The organization and fast pace was great – it can often be hard to slip away from work to hear about research or work on a topic that is not related to your field. I was amazed to find out how many people I didn’t recognize and am happy to have made some new contacts and maybe even new collaborations. Looking forward to the next event!” – Harriet Parsons, Joint Astronomy Center, one of the event’s coordinators.

Gemini staff made up 11 of the 42 presenters. Watch for future postings of their exciting research!

Staff, from many of the Astronomical facilities at the University of Hawaii’s Science and Technology Park, chat at the end of a successful 1st Jamboree. Gemini Observatory/AURA image by Joy Pollard.

The Research Jamboree took place on February 4th, 2015, at the Subaru Observatory in Hilo.