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Andy Weir has become famous for his meticulously researched speculative fiction that features competent, but very human, scientists working seemingly impossible problems, all while hewing as closely as possible to known science and technology. In his latest book, Project Hail Mary, Weir has raised the stakes from saving a single stranded astronaut (The Martian) to an interstellar long shot mission to save the Earth—and our stellar neighbors. The heart of the story is two explorers, Dr. Ryland Grace of Earth and Rocky from 40 Eridani A, and their missions to tau Ceti. Along the way, Weir leans into what we know and what we might guess about the cosmos, and how competence and curiosity are universal.
Meg’s talk focuses on the astronomy and physics of Project Hail Mary, which range from well-known and exciting discoveries in science and technology to the more speculative leaps in imagination.
If you missed the live presentation in April, this recording is a great way to be part of the community conversation.
About the speaker:
Dr. Megan Pickett is an associate professor of physics and chair of the Physics Department at Lawrence University. She earned her BA in Physics at Cornell University in 1988 and MA and PhD in Astrophysics in from Indiana University in 1995. After IU, she was a National Research Council Fellow at NASA’s Ames Research Center until 1999, when she began her teaching career at Valparaiso University, Purdue University, and ultimately Lawrence University. She has written more than two dozen papers on the origins of Solar Systems and Gas Giant planets, as well as receiving several NASA and NSF grants. While at Lawrence, she has been awarded the First Year Studies Teaching Award, the Early Career Teaching Award, The Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Honors Faculty Convocation Award, which was later adapted into a TED talk (https://youtu.be/eYC93oQURPc). A native of Madison, she has worked in New York, Indiana, California, Washington, Munich, and Yorkshire.
Andy Weir has become famous for his meticulously researched speculative fiction that features competent, but very human, scientists working seemingly impossible problems, all while hewing as closely as possible to known science and technology. In his latest book, Project Hail Mary, Weir has raised the stakes from saving a single stranded astronaut (The Martian) to an interstellar long shot mission to save the Earth—and our stellar neighbors. The heart of the story is two explorers, Dr. Ryland Grace of Earth and Rocky from 40 Eridani A, and their missions to tau Ceti. Along the way, Weir leans into what we know and what we might guess about the cosmos, and how competence and curiosity are universal.
Meg’s talk focuses on the astronomy and physics of Project Hail Mary, which range from well-known and exciting discoveries in science and technology to the more speculative leaps in imagination.
If you missed the live presentation in April, this recording is a great way to be part of the community conversation.
About the speaker:
Dr. Megan Pickett is an associate professor of physics and chair of the Physics Department at Lawrence University. She earned her BA in Physics at Cornell University in 1988 and MA and PhD in Astrophysics in from Indiana University in 1995. After IU, she was a National Research Council Fellow at NASA’s Ames Research Center until 1999, when she began her teaching career at Valparaiso University, Purdue University, and ultimately Lawrence University. She has written more than two dozen papers on the origins of Solar Systems and Gas Giant planets, as well as receiving several NASA and NSF grants. While at Lawrence, she has been awarded the First Year Studies Teaching Award, the Early Career Teaching Award, The Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Honors Faculty Convocation Award, which was later adapted into a TED talk (https://youtu.be/eYC93oQURPc). A native of Madison, she has worked in New York, Indiana, California, Washington, Munich, and Yorkshire.
