The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science by Kate Zernike
Just finished reading The Exceptions by Kate Zernike, and wow I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. The amazing true story of Nancy Hopkins and the incredible women of MIT who fought against gender discrimination in science. So inspiring!!!
A diamondback terrepin, the mascot of University of Maryland!
Some more exciting news: I will be joining the faculty at University of Maryland’s Department of Astronomy starting Fall 2025!
Tbh I had to google what a terrapin was but I’m so excited to have this cute little guy as a mascot. 😄
I am thrilled to share that next year I will be starting a 51 Pegasi b Fellowship at Arizona State! So grateful to Heising-Simons and ASU for this opportunity to keep studying exoplanets with JWST! www.hsfoundation.org/news-stories...
And I will not ignore either the little cousin of this proposal which will do a similar type of science (eclipses of rocky planets) but a deeper dive on one planet instead of a broad survey. Both amazing science I’m so excited about and lucky to work on!
Alt text: proposal acceptance email from JWST to survey ultra-hot rocky planets and look for silicate vapor atmospheres
Wow, I am so excited for this one!!!
And PS: she’s applying for grad school this year!
I’m not at AAS this year, but Dare Bartelt, a wonderful and talented undergrad who’s been working with me will be presenting work she’s lead on analyzing high-resolution transits of WASP-43b observed with IGRINS. Check out her talk at 10 am local on Wednesday, in Session 322!
Hope to see you all there!
Announcement: registration is now open for the Two HoRSEs meeting on high-resolution exoplanet/stellar characterization!
Harnack House, Berlin, July 15-19
Registration open until February 16
Check the website for more details (and some amazing horse art) sites.google.com/view/two-hor...
(And if you're an astronomer who has done a name change and has any tips, please let me know! 😄)
A bit of exciting personal news: on November 5, I married my soul mate and absolute best friend, Joshua Weiner. 💖 Which means I'm in the slow process of officially changing my name to Megan Weiner Mansfield (two last names). Keep an eye out for cool research with upgraded name!
51 Peg application submitted!! Now I get tomorrow to look at those JWST proposals I’ve been neglecting lol.
Museum exhibit on Dorothy Block Paraskevopolous, an early 1900s Harvard Computer.
NHFP fellows took a visit to the Harvard Women Computers exhibit yesterday, where I learned that had I lived 100 years ago, the best way to get telescope time might have been to marry a well-connected astronomer. Astro has a long way to go, but I’m grateful for how far we’ve come!
Backpack full of chobani yogurt cups that were leftover from a conference breakfast
And stealing yogurts (Ryan’s backpack full of extra food pictured below) 😂
Predictably, my #thesisquote was from Taylor Swift:
“Don’t you see the starlight, starlight? Don’t you dream impossible dreams?”
Hello Bluesky astronomers! I finally made the switch over here, follow me for occasional pithy comments about exoplanet atmospheres or Taylor Swift 😛