Thursday, September 24 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
On-Campus Event - — Harney 136
"Building a Sharper View of the Universe"
Dr. Scott Severson, Sonoma State University, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Thursday, September 24, 2026
12:45-2:00pm – HR 136 (coffee hour beginning at 12:15pm)
This talk follows a path through experimental astrophysics, from the development of near-infrared instruments and adaptive-optics systems to their use in improving the capabilities of ground-based telescopes. It concludes with a current effort to bring that same observational perspective into undergraduate education by developing a course in which students plan observations, acquire spectra, and use galaxy rotation measurements to investigate the dark matter inferred from galactic dynamics.
Scott Severson is a professor of physics and astronomy at Sonoma State University whose work spans astronomical instrumentation, observational astrophysics, and undergraduate education. His technical background includes designing and building near-infrared cameras and spectrometers and developing adaptive-optics systems that allow ground-based telescopes to reveal finer astronomical detail. He also works to connect instrumentation and observing to the classroom through courses that give students practical experience with the methods of modern astronomical research.