Meet Sonia Duffau, head of Education and Public Outreach (EPO) for the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Chile.
Recent News
Young Stars Shape the Fate of Galaxies
A team of astronomers found that in typical galaxies, pressure from ionized gas generated by newly formed stars drives the expansion of star-forming regions. However, whether these regions continue to grow or stall depends strongly on their surrounding environment.
NSF VLA and ALMA Reveal Hidden “Ring Factories” of Giant Star Clusters in Nearby Galaxies
Astronomers have used U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) radio telescopes in Chile and New Mexico to peer through cosmic smoke and haze, building one of the clearest pictures yet of how giant clusters of young stars are born in the hearts of nearby galaxies.
AUI Sponsors Student Outreach Event at 229th AAS Meeting
Associated Universities, Inc. sponsors the American Astronomical Society local student outreach event at AAS winter meetings. This event is geared towards underserved populations in middle- and high-school. The society welcomes local student groups, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program participants, home schoolers and families for an interactive afternoon of science.
Students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on demonstrations and speak with world famous scientists and engineers at the forefront of astronomy research.
Following a welcome talk by a renown scientist, the students are chaperoned into the AAS Exhibit Hall to meet with several exhibitors for exciting hands-on activities covering topics such as discovering exoplanets, building an interferometer, dark matter, infrared cameras, light spectrum, radio astronomy, deploying the James Webb Space Telescope and more.
As the students leave, they receive a backpack full of resource materials to further their exploration.
At the 229th AAS meeting, in Grapevine, Texas, there were 320 students in attendance from Dallas County schools.

Tim Spuck, AUI’s STEM Education Development Officer and Suzy Gurton, NRAO’s EPO Assistant Director (seated), working together to provide a 12 minute explanation on the Solar Eclipse that will cross the US in August 2017
Recent News
10 Questions: Sonia Duffau
Meet Sonia Duffau, head of Education and Public Outreach (EPO) for the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Chile.
Young Stars Shape the Fate of Galaxies
A team of astronomers found that in typical galaxies, pressure from ionized gas generated by newly formed stars drives the expansion of star-forming regions. However, whether these regions continue to grow or stall depends strongly on their surrounding environment.
NSF VLA and ALMA Reveal Hidden “Ring Factories” of Giant Star Clusters in Nearby Galaxies
Astronomers have used U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) radio telescopes in Chile and New Mexico to peer through cosmic smoke and haze, building one of the clearest pictures yet of how giant clusters of young stars are born in the hearts of nearby galaxies.