September 23rd 5pm - 8pm - in person

Title: From A Blackfoot Operator’s Eye: Gravitational Wave Detectors & Spacetime Discoveries What: Presentation, discussion, and tour of CLS Who should attend: Science Educators - high school & post-secondary; physics learners; astronomy enthusiast Where: At CLS Cost: FREE Register: Click Here

Join our dynamic education team in the seminar room at CLS to hear the exciting astronomic discovery and Blackfoot cultural influences supporting this award winning physicist! For those with time and interest, a tour of CLS will follow this discussion. Space is limited - registration closes Sept 12 - save your spot now!

Corey Gray is a member of the Siksika Nation which is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He completed his undergrad at Humboldt State University with B.S. degrees in Physics and Applied Mathematics. After undergrad, he was hired in 1998 by Caltech to work for the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) as a detector operator. He joined teams to both build and operate the LIGO gravitational wave detector in Washington state. LIGO made history with the first direct detection of
gravitational waves in 2015, which heralded the beginning of a new field of science: gravitational wave astronomy. In addition to being a LIGO operator, he has also learned to enjoy the importance of science
communication, with one highlight of his work being to recruit his mother, Sharon Yellowfly, to translate astrophysics documents into Blackfoot. Corey likes to backpack, travel, salsa dance, cross-country ski, go to pow wows, and kayak (with a wooden kayak he built). He currently serves as a juror
for the National Academy of Sciences’ Excellence in Science Communication award.

The press release announcing this discovery was translated into many languages, including Blackfoot, by Corey’s mother, Sharon Yellowfly, in Siksika. To meet the  challenge of a lack of similar words in Blackfoot, Yellowfly got creative. A favorite is her translation of the general theory of relativity itself: bisaatsinsiimaan, with the literal translation meaning “beautiful plantings”. When Gray heard his mother’s translations and the literal meanings of these new Blackfoot words in English, his first thought was poetry — “my mom is a poet for Albert Einstein and astrophysics!” he thought. 

Corey will talk about gravitational wave astronomy, Einstein’s theory of relativity, LIGO, and his experiences as an Indigenous Physicist. Also learn the personal journey of a shy “reluctant science communicator” who has also learned the importance of science communication.