A human history of looking up: from stargazing to space lasers

For millennia, humans have gazed up at the night sky, a canvas of wonders that connect us across time. But while the stars have stayed the same, our tools and perspectives have transformed.

In this talk, Laura Burn will take us on a tour of the history of looking up at the night sky – from ancient stargazers to modern space telescopes – and explore how we’ve discovered the mysteries of our universe along the way. The power of science comes not just from discovery, but also from the voices telling the story. This talk invites you to see astronomy not only as a pursuit of knowledge, but as a shared human experience. Our relationship with the stars is ancient, but far from over.

Bio

Laura Burn (she/they) is a PhD candidate in physics at the University of Auckland. Her research focuses on gravitational waves emitted from merging supermassive black holes for the upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. A passionate science communicator, Laura also works as a planetarium presenter, engages in public outreach and is a research assistant in science education. Laura advocates for inclusive, equity-focused teaching and loves helping the public engage with cutting-edge science.

Event

6:00pm @Shadows, 8 Alfred Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010

Also speaking at this location at 8:00pm is Tom Allen