Join fellow alumni and friends for an astronomical experience as Daniel Fleisch, professor emeritus of physics, recipient of the 2004 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching, and 2010 Ohio Professor of the Year, provides a virtual tour of the night sky on June 11 beginning at 9 p.m. from Wittenberg’s historic Weaver Observatory.
The mystery of the sky and space has intrigued humans for millennia, and Weaver Observatory has allowed campus, community members, and stargazers of all ages to view galaxies, planets, and stars for generations. Complete with a historic 10-inch refracting telescope as well as modern astronomical instrumentation, the facility offers the perfect spot for Fleisch to deliver his live-streamed presentation using the same energy, excitement, and love of learning that defined his award-winning teaching style during his Wittenberg career.
Launched in 2020 as a way to keep students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members engaged during this time of social distancing, the Virtual Alumni College on the Road series has brought Wittenberg’s personalized education straight to constituents’ homes. The program provides alumni with a unique learning opportunity, special access to Wittenberg faculty, and the ability to engage with fellow alumni through the Zoom platform.
Fleisch’s session will kick off with a presentation covering the basics of astronomy and recent discoveries and news from space. After that, Fleisch will give a tour of the night sky (stars, constellations, and any visible planets), followed by telescopic observing of several celestial objects if the skies are clear. The virtual room will be open for mingling from 9 to 9:15 p.m. followed by the presentation from 9:15 to 10:15 p.m. Register for the event here.
One of the top 25 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professors in Ohio, Fleisch received his B.S. in physics from Georgetown University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in space physics and astronomy from Rice University. Also, a best-selling author, Fleisch has penned five books with Cambridge University Press, including the co-authored work A Student's Guide to the Mathematics of Astronomy with 2001 Wittenberg alumna, astronomer, writer, and professor Julia Kregenow, and his latest release, A Student's Guide to the Schrödinger Equation.
The June 11 event follows a robust series of programs featuring faculty members discussing several trending topics, including flattening the curve, climate change, race, the global pandemic, and more. All Virtual Alumni College presentations are streamed live and can be viewed on a computer, tablet, or mobile device by those who pre-registered for the event. To see previous presentations, visit: https://www.wittenberg.edu/virtual-alumni-college
