Based at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the Shadow the Scientists (StS) initiative aims to offer immersive virtual learning experiences for students of all ages that spark their interest in STEAM careers and strengthen their foundational skills and knowledge necessary for success in those professions.
We also host sessions open to the public to foster community awareness and appreciation for the vital research happening across STEAM fields.
Our sessions allow participants to engage with university and industry professionals while exploring how STEAM topics relate to real-world issues and community challenges.
Check out our YouTube channel to explore previous sessions.
Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Fuentes
Exploring the Universe with the Gemini North Telescope
June 11 | 8 PM HST | 11 PM Pacific
June 12 | 6 AM UT
Get ready for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge astronomical research during a live virtual observing session featuring the Gemini North telescope, located near the summit of Maunakea on Hawai‘i Island. While the telescope operates high above the clouds, the observations will be conducted remotely from the control room at the Hilo Base Facility.
In this special session, we’ll join the Gemini North observing team and the NASA Speckle Team as they use the powerful ‘Alopeke instrument. ‘Alopeke utilizes speckle imaging, which is a high-resolution imaging technique that is used to search for close stellar companions around nearby stars and other cosmic phenomena. You’ll learn how this advanced method is used to explore exoplanets, binary star systems, and even distant black holes.
Unlike “classical observing”, Gemini operates in queue mode. The Gemini staff carry out observations on behalf of researchers around the world, adapting in real time to weather conditions, the needs of other scientific programs, and unexpected astronomical events. Even on a night that is planned to be exclusively dedicated to ‘Alopeke observations, weather, observations of transient phenomena (e.g., supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, gravitational wave counterparts), or observations of other astrophysical phenomena may be taken in addition to those from ‘Alopeke.
Beyond ‘Alopeke, the instruments available to the science team during this session include the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS), the second generation of the Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrograph (IGRINS-2), and MAROON-X, which is an instrument built by a team at the University of Chicago that is capable of detecting Earth-like planets in the habitable zone of low-mass nearby stars.
Don’t miss this chance to go beyond the stars and discover how astronomers unlock the secrets of the universe in real time!
Garima Singh standing in front of the SCExAO instrument.
Direct Imaging of Exoplanets
June 16 | 3:15 PM HST
June 17 | 6:45 AM IST
Dedicated Session for Ankur Education Students
Exoplanets are worlds that orbit stars beyond our Solar System. Of the more than 5,000 exoplanets identified to date in our Milky Way Galaxy, only a few have been directly imaged. In this session, we will discuss the techniques that direct imaging instruments use to capture images of exoplanets, the technical challenges these instruments face, and the factors that limit the current state-of-the-art technology in imaging all known exoplanets.
This session will showcase an introduction to direct imaging via PowerPoint and a virtual daytime visit of a direct imaging instrument called SCExAO (Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme-Adaptive Optics), located at the Nasmyth platform of the Subaru Telescope. The science host for this session, Garima Singh, will perform a laboratory demonstration by artificially creating a star and Earth’s atmospheric turbulence, apply direct imaging techniques in real-time, and explain how planets are imaged with an 8-meter class telescope.
Python and Research Tutorial
Session A1 | June 17 | 10 AM Pacific |5 PM UT
A. Introduction: value proposition and structure/format of the PyaR tutorial
B. Jupyter notebook 1
C. Astrophysics background: Andromeda galaxy, PHAT dataset
D. Structure of an astrophysics journal article (Dorman et al. 2015)
E. Jupyter notebook 2
F. Astrophysics background: magnitudes, colors, stellar evolution, color-magnitude or Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams, mass-luminosity relation
G. Jupyter notebook 3
This tutorial is perfect for both beginners and experienced programmers, aiming to equip participants with the Python skills necessary for research. While the tutorial will be contextually centered on astrophysics research, the skills and insights gained will be transferable to other fields.
Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to enhance your research capabilities!
Session A2 | June 18 | 10 AM Pacific |5 PM UT
A. Astrophysics background: Stellar spectra and Doppler shift
B. Jupyter notebook 4
C. Astrophysics background: galaxy mergers
D. Jupyter notebook 5
E. Astrophysics background: galaxy disk kinematics, viewing geometry, the statistical concept of standard deviation
F. Jupyter notebook 6
This tutorial is perfect for both beginners and experienced programmers, aiming to equip participants with the Python skills necessary for research. While the tutorial will be contextually centered on astrophysics research, the skills and insights gained will be transferable to other fields.
Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to enhance your research capabilities!
Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Chu/J. Pollard
Cruising from the Solar Neighborhood to the Edge of the Universe: A Typical Night at Gemini North Observatory
June 26 | 8 PM HST | 11 PM Pacific
Dedicated Session for the 2025 Akamai Interns
In this special session dedicated to the 2025 Akamai interns, we will be virtually visiting real nighttime observations from the Gemini North telescope, which is located near the summit of Maunakea on the island of Hawai`i. The observations will be taking place remotely from the control room in the Hilo Base Facility, and we will be shadowing from just down the hall.
As opposed to “classical” observing nights that have been featured in many previous StS sessions, Gemini Observatory utilizes queue observing mode in which Gemini staff take observations on behalf of science teams from all over the world. On any given night, Gemini staff determine the conditions on the ground and in the sky and the scientific priorities and choose from a pool of scientific programs to observe. This means anything could be observed on any night!
The instruments available to the science team during this session include the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) and MAROON-X, which is an instrument built by a team at the University of Chicago that is capable of detecting Earth-like planets in the habitable zone of low-mass nearby stars. Observations in the infrared can be assisted by our ALTtitude conjugate Adaptive optics for the InfraRed (ALTAIR) adaptive optics system, which reduces the blur due to turbulence in the atmosphere. In addition, a new instrument recently entered the family, the second of the Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrograph (IGRINS-2). This powerful new instrument provides extremely high-resolution spectroscopy in the near-infrared primarily to observe stars, protoplanetary disks, and planets outside of our solar system.
This session is open to all students participating in the Akamai Workforce Initiative in 2025, regardless of the scope of their projects and their background with astronomy. Akamai interns joining this session will have a chance to hear from staff scientists and the night crew about how the telescope and instruments work, how we select scientific programs to observe, how we monitor conditions, and all of the beautiful chaos along the way.
Come join us for this cosmic journey as we explore the universe and share its wonders!
StS terms and conditions of engagement:
Please read the following as it gives some insight into how the evening will be structured.
- Please treat others on the Zoom call with utmost respect at all times. There is a zero tolerance policy for violations. Violators will be removed from the Zoom call and future StS sessions.
- Please keep in mind at all times that the primary purpose of the StS session is for the research team (e.g., team of astronomers) to collect scientific data. Please be respectful of their time and concentration.
- For the adults joining us, please try to have your Zoom name reflect your full name and school/group affiliation [e.g., Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC)]. For minors, because this event is open to the public, please feel free to use nicknames unless you have permission from parents or guardians to use your full name.
- After joining the Zoom session, you will be muted, but please feel free to type a short introduction about yourself into the chat.
- Until the scientists have some down time and can directly interface with the rest of the group on the Zoom call, please feel free to type questions and comments in the chat. Once the scientists are speaking with the group, please use the “raise hand” feature in Zoom, if youʻd like to speak.
- Please be aware that the StS Zoom call will be recorded, including the chat window, and both may be posted to YouTube in whole or in part for others to view. By joining the Zoom call, you are consenting to being recorded and for the recording to be posted.
- Please be cognizant of your video feed. Because the focus is on the science being done, please feel free to keep your video off during the Zoom call..
- Enjoy!