Speakers

Keynote: Michelle B. Larson, PhD

“Eyes to the Skies: My journey as an accidental astronomer”

 

I first became accustomed to looking up after moving to Alaska at age 10. There the northern lights frequently danced in the cold, dark winter skies and you could count on the radio DJ to announce when to step outside to see the show. My understanding that this was a stellar-induced event, or that there even was a vast Universe to discover, did not come until much later – a decade later. In this talk we’ll explore my journey as an accidental astronomer and how the many mysteries of the Universe serendipitously shaped an exciting life and career. 

 

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Michelle Larson is the 19th president of Clarkson University, serving in the role since 2025. A physicist and amateur astronomer, Michelle vividly remembers the first time she was curious about something not-yet-understood (by anyone!) and the thrill of chasing new understanding that followed. She’s made it her life’s work to help others feel that way too. Prior to Clarkson University, for 12 years Michelle was the President and CEO of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Earlier in her career, while at the Center for Gravitational Wave Physics at Penn State, she was a member of the Central Pennsylvania Observers in State College. Michelle earned her bachelors, masters and PhD degrees in physics from Montana State University, where her passion was sparked for progress in service of society.

Shane L. Larson

The Dark Side of the Universe: Dark matter and dark energy in the galaxy and Cosmos

The Cosmos abounds with matter that emits copious amounts of light, both in the spectrum of visible colors we perceive with our eyes as well as in invisible light such as x-rays and radio waves. But in the latter half of the 20th Century we discovered that a significant part of the Universe is filled with matter that doesn’t emit ANY light at all. In the last two decades, we have discovered an even more mysterious material that appears to be driving changes in the scale of the Universe. These dark influences are known as “dark matter” and “dark energy”, and can only be perceived by their gravitational influence on all the bright, shining matter we know and love. In this talk we’ll discuss why we think the dark matter and dark energy are out there, and explore some of the ideas we have for discovering just what it might be.
 
Biography 
Shane Larson is a professor of Physics at Clarkson University and the Director of Integrated Engineering and Applied Science Projects in the Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He works in the field of gravitational wave astrophysics, specializing in studies of compact stars, binaries, and the galaxy with both the ground-based LIGO project, and the forthcoming space-based observatory LISA. He is an award winning teacher, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He is an avid amateur astronomer, observing with two homebuilt Dobsonians, a 12.5″ named EQUINOX and a 22″ named COSMOS MARINER. He contributes regularly to a public science blog at writescience.wordpress.com, and posts at Bluesky with the handle @sciencejedi.

Dave Farina

Visual Astrophotography: Bridging the Gap Between Eyepiece and Imaging

There’s a moment every stargazer knows—the quiet stillness under a dark sky, the chill in the air, the sweep of the Milky Way above. You lean into the eyepiece, and for a breathless instant, it feels like the universe is yours alone.

 

Astrophotography has given us incredible new ways to capture that beauty. Over the past decade, cameras have grown more sensitive, computers smaller and faster, and apps more powerful than we ever imagined. The cosmos has never been easier to record. Yet with every breathtaking image, many of us have longed for something deeper: that simple, human experience of seeing the night sky in real time, with our own eyes.

 

That’s why Pegasus Astro’s SmartEye, powered by SkySafari, is so exciting. It introduces what I call “Visual Astrophotography”—a way to merge the immediacy of live observing with the clarity and reach of modern imaging. It’s not about replacing the eyepiece or the camera; it’s about uniting them. And the best part? You can use it with almost any telescope capable of tracking the heavens.

This is more than just technology—it’s a way to fall in love with the night sky all over again.

 

Biography :

I’m Dave Farina—astronomy educator, explorer, and storyteller. I’ve taught astronomy, run a planetarium, and shared the night sky as a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

In 2020, I created Cosmos Safari to bring science, nature, and the universe to life through photography, video, and adventure. By day, I capture landscapes and wildlife. By night, I chase the cosmos in the darkest skies.