UTICA, NY -- Dr. Shing Chi Leung, an assistant professor of physics at SUNY Poly, has delivered a series of public science talks in the Astro Seminar Series 2024. The series contains three talks on stars and supernovae held in colleges in the Utica area, including Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC, Feb. 20, 2024), Utica University (UU, Feb. 28, 2024) and SUNY Poly (Mar. 4, 2024). The three talks have attracted a total of 60 students from the three campuses. 

In each talk, Dr. Leung gave a survey on the physics and mechanisms of stellar evolution and supernova physics. He discussed about the research opportunities in these areas and how some of the skills in physics research can be translated to industry jobs. He concluded the talk with the relevant projects available as part SUNY Poly's Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). 

Dr. Leung explained that the activity is a part of the research project supported by the National Science Foundation grant, “Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences” (LEAPS-MPS). The grant supports Dr. Leung’s research and outreach activities. One major aim of the grant is to enhance the participation of science research and the diversity of the participants, including members from groups historically excluded and currently underrepresented in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

To achieve this aim, Dr. Leung has coordinated with Dr. Shahida Das (MVCC), Dr. Adam Schoonmaker (UU), Andrew Cotronea (SUNY Poly) to facilitate the participation of students including CSTEP program in all three institutes and the PASS program at Utica University. Dr. Leung mentioned that the grant will also support students to participate in his SURP projects. 

Dr. Leung added, “These talks will be our first steps to inspire more students in nearby areas to consider pursuing STEM as a possible path in their career. In the future we plan to extend these activities to broader audiences. I believe that exposing students to the frontier knowledge in STEM and providing them hands-on research experience are the key for increasing STEM workforce in the future.” 

Dr. Leung acknowledges the support from the National Science Foundation under the grant AST-2316807.