Ithaca College

Luke Keller, Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Madison Mangano, Physics and Astronomy major, have been selected as the Keynote Speakers for the 19th Annual James J. Whalen Academic Symposium on April 14, 2016.

Dr. Keller is also a co-investigator with a team of scientists and engineers who designed and built an infrared camera and spectrometer for NASA's airborne Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).  Madison Mangano is a senior in the department of Physics and Astronomy (B.S., May 2016) with minors in Honors and Mathematics. 

The pair will be presenting on Mangano’s senior thesis entitled “Listening to the Atoms and Molecules of Distant Solar Systems.” The presentation will focus on the analysis of complex spectral data sets through sonification, which transforms the light signals into audio signals and will allow users to experience the light spectra of stars and other objects in the universe as sounds.

“We present the sounds of atoms and molecules commonly observed in space and compare them to sonified spectra of newly forming solar systems,” said Keller. “In just minutes, an audience of non-astrophysicists will be using these sounds to describe their physical characteristics; we’ll be a room full of astrophysicists!”

The Opening Ceremony and Keynote for this year’s James J. Whalen Academic Symposium will take place from 8:30 – 9:15 am in Emerson A. 

Come and show your support for your classmates, fellow students, and colleagues who will represent departments across campus with over 280+ presentations, including oral presentations, performances, and poster presentations.  Attend the Symposium from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm in the Campus Center.  The noon-hour will feature finalist presentations for the Whalen Symposium Awards.  There will also be a closing session, featuring an awards ceremony which will begin at 3:50 pm.

The Whalen Symposium Steering Committee encourages students who have qualifying disabilities to contact Yvonne Rogalski, Chair of the Committee at yrogalski@ithaca.edu at least one week in advance of any Information Session or other pre-Whalen event to ensure timely arrangements can be made for any necessary accommodations.  For accommodations at the Symposium itself, please make contact at least two weeks in advance to ensure necessary accommodations can be made.