5:30pm, Saturday, December 3, 2022
The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720
Join Justice Outside and our partner Lawrence Hall of Science for a private reception followed by a cosmic journey featuring a lecture by artist, astrophysicist, and professor of astronomy Dr. Nia Imara.
In We Love the Light, Nia Imara will lead us on a dynamic, light-filled exploration of the universe. She will tell a story of how we live on a small, rocky planet orbiting an ordinary star, which is just one of billions of stars flying around in the Milky Way—which, in turn, is one of countless galaxies that have been speeding away from each other for the past 14 billion years. It is a story about how our relationship to the cosmos and to one another can be understood by standing at the unique vantage point at the crossroads of art and science. It is a story of how light is fundamental to life.
Light is the messenger of the universe. Long before the invention of telescopes, our ancestors could look up into the sky to contemplate the patterns and mysteries of the cosmos. From the phases of the moon to the changes in the seasons, from rainbows to eclipses of the sun, light makes it possible for each of us to explore and understand nature. Today, astronomers use cutting-edge technology to take pictures of the universe—planets, exploding stars, galaxies…and even black holes—pictures that allow us to see nature in entirely new ways. Images of stellar nurseries unveil the young light of newborn stars, while the cosmos’ most ancient light reveals that the universe is old, dynamic, and vast. Artists, meanwhile, use light and color as practical tools of communication and as metaphors for excavating the heart. Although we are small compared to the cosmos, every individual is precious, and art has the compelling power to evoke community and bring people together.
RSVP for this free community event for Justice Outside friends below.
More about Dr. Nia Imara: An artist and astrophysicist, Nia Imara’s body of work reflects her love for vibrant color, people, and their stories. As a professor of astronomy, Imara teaches and researches how stars are born in the Milky Way and other galaxies throughout the universe. She is the founding director of Onaketa, a nonprofit that provides free STEM tutoring and other educational resources to black and brown youth. Click here to learn more.
Note: Event venue is accessible by wheelchair and has public parking for the cost of $1/hour. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.