Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Teen Science Cafe | State of Our Climate
2024-02-16 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Stage, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, February 16th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For this month we will be joined by North Carolina’s State Climatologist, Dr. Kathie Dello to hear about climate and weather trend in North Carolina.

The western doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00.

Join State Climatologist Kathie Dello for an overview of the past year in North Carolina’s weather and climate, including major events and impacts to agriculture and other sectors. This program webinar will include historical and future perspectives about our recent climate conditions and an opportunity for Q&A with the State Climate Office.

About Dr. Dello

Kathie Dello is the state climatologist of North Carolina and the director of the North Carolina State Climate Office. She is the 5th permanent director and first woman to hold this position at the NCSCO in the office’s history. Kathie also serves as the co-director of the NOAA Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessment (RISA) for the Carolinas, the Carolinas Collaborative on Climate, Health, and Equity (C3HE).

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science Stage located on the 1st floor.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Directives from the Deep Sea | Carolina Science Cafe
2024-03-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the March cafe, we will be joined by professional science communicator Marley Parker to learn what life is like during a deep-sea ocean expedition.

How do benthic organisms impact our daily lives? Why (and how) should we invest resources to explore the seafloor? Are submersibles safe? In this talk, Marley Parker will discuss these questions, and share photos, videos, and stories from several of her deep sea research expeditions.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Café will be hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, March 5th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

Meet the Speaker

Marley Parker has spent the past decade working as a professional science communicator. At the beginning of 2018, she left her full-time position at UNC Research to start her own business as a freelance photographer, videographer, and science writer. In the past six years, Marley has specialized in documenting deep sea research. She has joined over 20 expeditions on various research vessels in the Pacific, the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Life under a Solar Eclipse
2024-04-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Extraordinary Darkness: How Animals Respond to Solar Eclipses

Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the April cafe, we will welcome Dr. Lisa Paciulli and Dr. Adam Hartstone-Rose from NC State University to discuss wildlife under a solar eclipse. This event is a part of the North Carolina Science Festival, a statewide, month-long celebration of science.

Until the “Great American Eclipse” of 2017, the only broad study of animal behavior during a solar eclipse was conducted during an eclipse that passed through New England in 1932 – all other descriptions were fairly anecdotal, and many were contradictory. In 2017, Dr. Hartstone-Rose’s lab did a study of how 17 species of animals at a zoo on the path of totality reacted to this phenomenon, and the results were amazing! Come learn about which animals reacted to the eclipse, how they reacted, and what their plans are for the eclipse happening on April 8th – including how you can contribute to the research!

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Café is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, April 2nd, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

About The Lab

The Hartstone-Rose Lab studies functional morphology and comparative anatomy in vertebrates. They examine the relationship between anatomical form and behavioral functions through studies of animal behavior, soft-tissue muscle dissections and analysis, and morphological analysis of the craniodental anatomy of both extant and extinct species. Beyond their morphological research, they have several funded projects aimed at broadening participation in STEM.

Learn More: Dr. Hartstone-Rose Research Lab (google.com)

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

UNC Science Expo
2024-04-06 11:00 - 16:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
One of the largest celebrations of science in North Carolina returns on April 6!

As a signature event of the North Carolina Science Festival, the UNC Science Expo features over 100 booths, hands-on activities, games, science demonstrations, food trucks, and behind-the-scenes lab tours.

At this year’s Expo, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will also celebrate its 75th anniversary by bringing more excitement, including discounts from Franklin St. businesses, stage performances, prizes, and more. Come celebrate all the hard work and research of UNC scientists right here on campus!

More about the Expo

Solar Eclipse Party
2024-04-08 12:30 - 16:45 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Join Morehead as we celebrate the solar eclipse! Outdoor activities are free and include solar observing, hands-on astronomy activities, and more. Ticketed admission in the building includes a live stream of the eclipse from totality, meteorite activities, and special eclipse-themed screenings of Carolina Skies in our Fulldome theater. Our museum store will also sell eclipse glasses on the day of the event and other merchandise as supplies last.

We are currently out of stock of eclipse glasses, but we will have a limited amount available for purchase on Monday, April 8. The limit is two per person.

Activities

Outdoors — Free

Telescopes and sunspotters for solar observing

Gift shop table with eclipse glasses and other merchandise

Hands-on solar and eclipse activities, and more!

Indoors — $10 admission

A live stream of the eclipse from totality on our Science Stage

Meteorites and other indoor activities in our Launch Lab

Carolina Skies: Solar Eclipse (SOLD OUT) – a 30-minute presentation providing information about the causes of solar eclipses and a special look at a total solar eclipse in the planetarium.

Tickets go on sale Monday, March 25. Guest passes, memberships, and walk-up discounts such as UNC students and Museums 4 All are not applicable for this event.

Teen Science Cafe | Evolution of Animal Behavior
2024-04-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Stage, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Feisty females: hyenas and lemurs and meerkats, oh my!

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, April 19th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For this month we will be joined by Duke University professor Dr. Christine Drea to explore species where females display physical and behavioral traits that are usually associated with males.

Dr. Drea will talk about a few special primate and carnivore species, in which all female members display physical and behavioral traits that are typically associated with males. Despite the species’ very different lifestyles, they share the same unusual suite of behavioral traits – including more rough-and-tumble play, scent marking, and aggression than males – that ultimately relate to increased female competition and contribute to making dominant females much more reproductively successful than lower females.

The western doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00.

About the Speaker

Dr. Christine Drea is a Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and of Biology at Duke University. Her research interests are in the mechanisms, development, function, and evolution of animal social and reproductive behavior, with a focus on exceptional mammals, including hyenas, lemurs, and meerkats. The general premise driving this selection is that unusual species test our understanding of normal processes and function as ‘experiments of nature.’

Her team’s current work, conducted in parts of Africa and at the Duke Lemur Center in North Carolina, is centered on the role of androgens in female dominance and aggression, the neuroendocrine mediators of social bonding and cooperation, the evolution of chemical communication, and the role of microbes in mediating animal behavior and wellbeing. A passion for wildlife and wild spaces fuels teaching, mentoring, and public outreach aimed at encouraging curiosity about and appreciation of the world around us, as well as activism in support of nature conservancy. Service within the academy is focused on improving diversity and achieving equity in the workplace.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science Stage located on the 1st floor.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Carolina Science Cafe | Atmospheric Aerosols
2024-05-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Big Things Have Small Beginnings: How understanding atmospheric aerosols can save lives and help our climate

Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the May cafe, we will welcome Dr. Will Vizuete from Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE) in the Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Café is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, May 7th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

Exposure to atmospheric aerosols are believed to cause annually 8.3 million premature deaths worldwide. Atmospheric aerosols are also an important atmospheric radiative forcer and plays a critical role in our understanding of the impacts of climate change. Tackling problems of air pollution mortality and climate change are the global public health challenges that motivate this talk.

In this talk, find out about how his research is helping us understand how we form atmospheric aerosols, and its connection to human health and climate change. Learn how the latest computing science is being used to build computer simulations of the atmosphere to understand how these aerosols are formed, where they go, and how they impact humans and the planet.

Dr. Vizuete is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (ESE) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The ESE Department resides within the Gillings School of Global Public Health and is primarily oriented toward graduate education. His department’s research scope spans water, air, and the sublayer environments and is focused on their interactions from an engineering and science perspective.

Within the department, Dr. Vizuete works within the two interdisciplinary programs of “Air Quality and Atmospheric Processes” and “Human Exposure and Health Effects.” his research is primarily conducted within interdisciplinary teams where this diversity of expertise, coupled with their engineering background, has allowed me to develop novel engineering solutions for public health problems. For fun, Dr. Vizuete is a WXYC DJ and plays bass in a traditional ska/reggae band The Unsustainables.

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Teen Science Cafe | FIRST Carrborobotics
2024-05-17 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Stage, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, May 17th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For this month we will be joined by FIRST Robotics team Carrborobotics who has just returned from the national competition. They will be showcasing this year’s robot, discussing the challenges they faced, and how to get involved.

Their team is completely student led and managed. We are nearly equal in our male-female ratio. Carrborobotics is a space open to all, regardless of appearance or orientation. We aim to provide a space within STEM where underrepresented groups are able to learn and grow their skills.

Carrborobotics pushes to bring out the best in our members and are constantly learning about ourselves through the construction of our robots and the friendships the team forms. Most of our team members have been in the local school system since elementary and take pride in visiting their past schools and getting younger students involved in STEM at early ages.

The western doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00.

Established in 2019, Carrborobotics is a FIRST® Robotics Competition team. We are based in Carrboro, North Carolina, and represent the students of Carrboro High School. Currently, our team is student-led by two captains, with the guidance of our lead mentor, Dr. Morais.

Learn More About the Team

Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science LIVE! Stage.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Carolina Science Cafe | Environmental Justice
2024-06-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
How Environmental Justice Improves Environmental Science

Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the June Cafe, we will welcome Dr. Ryan Emanuel, a tenured faculty member at Duke University’s Nicolas School for the Environment.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Café is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, June 4th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

Environmental justice is the idea that everyone deserves to be protected from environmental harm (e.g., pollution, natural disasters), allowed access to environmental benefits (e.g., green space), and included equitably in environmental decision-making processes. While many who are familiar with these ideas typically think about science and technology as tools to promote justice, we do not often consider how environmental justice can improve the work of environmental scientists and professionals.

This science café will tackle this issue head on as Ryan Emanuel shares his perspective as a water scientist whose work has been deeply influenced (and improved) by the principles of environmental justice. Using examples from his new book on Indigenous environmental justice in North Carolina, On the Swamp, and from his other work, Emanuel highlights the importance of understanding and acknowledging the two-way relationship between environmental justice and environmental science.

About the Speaker

Ryan Emanuel is a hydrologist and community-engaged scholar from North Carolina. He is currently an associate professor of hydrology at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and formerly worked as a professor in the College of Natural Resources at NC State University. At Duke, Emanuel’s research group studies the impacts of climate change and unsustainable development on water and watery places. His group also partners with Native American Tribes in North Carolina to understand environmental change from their perspectives as First Peoples. Emanuel is the author of On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice. He belongs to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Learn more about his work: Ryan E. Emanuel, Ph.D. (ryanemanuel.com)

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Psychology of Sports Injuries
2024-07-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Psychologically-Informed Practice to Enhance Health Outcomes after Sport-Related Injury

Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the July cafe, we will welcome Shelby Baez, Ph.D., ATC, Director of the Psychology of Sport Injury Laboratory in UNC’s Department of Exercise and Sport Science.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, July 2nd, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

When people have negative mental reactions to getting injured, like feeling more scared of getting hurt again and losing confidence, they often struggle to get back into their sport and have a higher risk of getting injured again. Psychologically-informed practice is a way of taking care of patients that considers their physical, mental, and social needs, and it helps improve how well they recover from injuries.

This approach has been proven to make athletes perform better and stay healthier. This talk will cover the latest research on how people mentally respond to injuries and the best ways to help them get back into their sport and feel good again.

About the Speaker

Dr. Baez’s research examines the impact of psychosocial factors on health outcomes after sport-related injury. Her lab seeks to identify clinically feasible psychosocial interventions to improve health outcomes. Dr. Baez has been funded by the National Institutes of Health to support her work. She was the recipient of the American College of Sports Medicine New Investigator Award in 2023 and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association New Investigator Award in 2024.

Learn More About Dr. Baez Research

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Wet, Wild, and Wonderful: North Carolina's Wetlands
2024-09-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the September cafe, we will welcome Kristie Gianopulos, a Wetland Scientist with the North Carolina Department of Environment Quality Division of Water Resources. We are excited to explore the wonders of wetlands in North Carolina and what we can do to protect them.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, September 3rd, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

Learn about North Carolina’s wetlands – what they are, where they can be found, why they are important, who lives in them, and how they form. Learn about the wetland types we have in North Carolina as well as some resources to find and explore a wetland near you.

About the Speaker

Kristie Gianopulos was raised in western New York where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology, then moved to sunny Florida for her Master’s degree in Zoology, where she then worked in environmental consulting for a dozen years.

Her north and south experience prepared her well for the next dozen years in North Carolina, where she has been part of a small wetland research team in the NC Division of Water Resources, funded on a project basis through competitive EPA grants. In her time outside of work, she enjoys photography, kayaking, and reading travel books.

NC Wetlands Homepage

Guide to Common Wetlands Plants of NC

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Data on Contemporary Authoritarianism
2024-10-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Data on Contemporary Authoritarianism in Context: Russia since the Invasion of Ukraine

Join us for a special installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the October cafe, we will welcome Sasha de Vogel, a Post-Doctoral Fellow and Associate Director with the Authoritarian Politics Lab in the UNC Department of Political Science. This cafe is done in partnership with the University of North Carolina Postdoctoral Association.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, October 1st, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

A man being arrested for protesting with an unreadable sign. Credit: Associated Press

Before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Vladimir Putin’s government had already been designated as authoritarian. Since then, Russia has seen changes in its laws, more repression, and a growing acceptance of these harsh measures. As a result, Russians now find it nearly impossible to publicly oppose their government. This talk will examine the political shifts that have occurred in Russia since the war in Ukraine started.

About the Speaker

Sasha de Vogel is a post-doctoral fellow and associate director of the Authoritarian Politics Lab at UNC Chapel Hill. Her research addresses how authoritarian regimes manage their publics, in particular how they prevent or respond to protest, with a regional focus on Russia. Her scholarship has appeared in Conflict Management and Peace Studies, Democratization and Post-Soviet Affairs. She has a PhD in political science from the University of Michigan and previously held post-doctoral fellowships at New York University and Harvard University.

Learn More

Dr. Vogel’s Website

UNC Authoritarian Politics Lab

Teen Science Cafe | Spooky Space Stories
2024-10-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium Fulldome Theater, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, October 25th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! With Halloween right around the corner, we want to have some fun and share some spooky space stories. Join Morehead staff as we explore the universe, draw your own constellations, and celebrate the season. The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

All attendees are encouraged to dress up in a fun, school-appropriate costume or outfit. The best one will get a prize!

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Full Dome Theather.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Teen Science Cafe | Climate Change
2024-11-08 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, November 8th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! This is a special cafe done as a part of our climate action plan that was written during the North Carolina Youth Climate Summit earlier this year. Members of our Teen Advisory Board will be returning to the Summit later this year to give an update and plan for the future.

We will be joined by an engaging STEM professional to discuss climate change and helping young people understand what they can do. Part of the presentation will include a PG-13 climate documentary due to bleeped language. For our activity this month, the Teen Advisory Board will lead a community recycled art project!If you bring in any of the following items to help with the art project, you get a sticker!

Bottle caps (Plastic or metal)

Soda can tabs

Scrap paper

Newspaper

Straws

Plastic lids

The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

Watch the trailer for the film that will be screened at Friday’s cafe!

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will also take place in the Science Stage.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Carolina Science Cafe | Three Minute Thesis Finalists
2024-11-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
UNC-Chapel Hill’s 2024 3MT Competition

Join us for a special installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the November cafe, we will welcome 5 outstanding graduate students from UNC to share their research in a series of lightning talks. This cafe is done in partnership with the University of North Carolina Three Minute Thesis Competition.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, November 12th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees. Note the change in date, this will be the 2nd Tuesday in November.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience.

3MT was developed by The University of Queensland in 2008, and is now held in more than 900 universities in 85 countries around the world.

Master’s degree and doctoral students enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill from any discipline administered by The Graduate School are welcome to register and participate in the competition.

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Skywatching at Prairie Ridge Ecostation
2024-11-23 19:00 - 22:00 | Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607, United States
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will be at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ winter astronomy night with the Raleigh Astronomy Club! Weather permitting, we’ll have telescopes for skywatching, guided by astronomy educators. Morehead will be onsite from 7 to 9 p.m. for this event.

We recommend dressing for the weather and leaving pets at home. The gate to the road will be open at 6:50 p.m. – please do not arrive earlier as there is nowhere to park safely outside the gate.

Learn more about this event

Carolina Science Cafe | Spatial Intelligence & AI
2024-12-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Spatial Intelligence and Embodied AI: Understanding and Interacting with the Real World

Join us for the next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the December cafe, we will welcome Richard Marks from the UNC School of Data Science and Society to discuss his work on generative AI and mixed reality (XR) technology.

The recent advancements in generative AI have enabled many exciting new digital applications such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Midjourney. So what’s next? Spatial intelligence enables computers to perceive and interpret the real world and share the same physical context that we as people just take for granted. Embodied AI takes this one step further by using this perception to plan and execute actions and then learn from this interaction with the surroundings. These capabilities enable many new applications, from self-driving cars to graphical chatbots to personal robots.

Dr. Marks will describe these new directions and explain how they connect to his previous work in computer vision, virtual reality, and physical simulation. The talk will highlight many prototypes and past research from the internal labs of Sony and Google.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, December 3rd, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees. Parking is available in the parking deck behind the building if the lot out front if full.

About the Speaker

Dr. Richard Marks is a new professor at UNC in the School of Data Science and Society. Previous to UNC, he was a director and technical project lead at Google, overseeing an applied research team. Before that, Richard was at PlayStation R&D where he founded the Magic Lab and helped create the EyeToy, PlayStation Move, and PlayStation VR. He is an inventor on over 100 patents. He studied avionics at MIT then got his PhD from Stanford in underwater robotics. Currently, Richard is teaching an introductory data science class; last year, he taught Virtual Reality and 3D graphics. His research focuses on the combination of AI and XR.

The Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Nutrition Science & Flashy Headlines
2025-01-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Red dye, seed oils, and corn syrup, oh my! What nutrition science really says about what’s healthy to eat.

Join us for the next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the January Cafe, we will be joined by Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie from the UNC Department of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Public Health to discuss recent nutrition headlines, the science behind them, and why it’s all so confusing.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, January 7th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees. Parking is available in the parking deck behind the building if the lot out front if full.

Is bacon more harmful than our health than cigarettes? Is chocolate good for our hearts or not? And what’s the deal with eggs, anyway? Nutrition is often in the headlines after new studies are released, often with confusing results and recommendations that flip flop.

In this presentation, we’ll talk about recent nutrition headlines, the science behind them, and why it’s all so confusing. We’ll also cover how the food industry has interfered with nutrition science and policy and generated a lot of the noise. Lastly, we’ll explore what the data actually tell us about what’s healthy (and not) as well as some potential policy options to make the healthier choice the easier choice.

About the Speaker

Lindsey Smith Taillie is an associate professor and associate chair of nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on examining how the food environment affects unhealthy diets, obesity, and diabetes as well as evaluating food policies to promote healthier diets in the US and globally.

Dr. Taillie is co-director of the Global Food Research Program and currently co-leads a large multi-country project to inform and evaluate an array of healthy food policies around the world including in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. In the US, her work has focused on policies including marketing restrictions, nutrition labels, taxes on sugary drinks, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program and WIC, and school foods. Dr. Taillie’s food policy work has been featured in many major news outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and The Guardian.

Click Here to Learn More About Dr. Taillie’s Work

The Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Solar Fuels
2025-02-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
From Sunlight to Sweet Fuels: How Plants Do It

Join us for the next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the February Cafe, we will be joined by Dr. Seun Oyetade from the Cahoon Group in the UNC Department of Chemistry to discuss his research on solar fuels. You can read more in a recent article published by Dave DeFusco titled “Innovative Fuzzy Graphene Technique Paving the Way for Carbon-Neutral Economy.”

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, February 4th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees. Parking is available in the parking deck behind the building if the lot out front if full.

In this exciting talk, we will discuss the groundbreaking world of solar fuels – a sustainable technology that aims to use sunlight to convert greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, into useful, renewable fuels. Learn how scientists are working to capture earth’s abundant energy source, convert it into chemical fuels, and pave the way for a cleaner, sustainable future. Discover how solar fuels could be the key to a carbon-free world and solving the global energy crisis.

About the Speaker

Dr. Seun Oyetade obtained his PhD degree in Environmental Physical Chemistry from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and currently serves as a postdoctoral research associate at the Cahoon Laboratory at UNC. His research focuses on understanding the physical properties of nanomaterials through chemical synthesis, and their application in wastewater remediation and solar energy.

The Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Brain-Machine Interfaces
2025-03-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Connecting Minds with Machines

Join us for the next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the March Cafe, we will be joined by Dr. Amol P. Yadav from the UNC-NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill to discuss his research on brain-spine interfaces, multi-animal brain-nets and closed-loop stimulation.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, March 4th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees. Parking is available in the parking deck behind the building if the lot out front if full.

About the Speaker

Dr. Amol Yadav is an Assistant Professor in the UNC-NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2015 from Duke University in the laboratory of Dr. Miguel Nicolelis, where he developed tools to advance brain-machine interfaces using spinal cord neuromodulation, and pioneered technologies such as brain-spine interfaces, multi-animal brain-nets and closed-loop stimulation

His research lies at the intersection of Neuroscience and Engineering, and his lab specializes in spinal cord stimulation, high-density neural recording, computational modeling, behavioral experimentation in rodents and human clinical trials with invasive technologies. To advance translational ideas and to bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical research, the lab collaborates with surgeons, clinicians, basic scientists, and other engineers.

The Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Teen Science Cafe | Psychology
2025-03-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
The Science of Individuality: A Psychological Exploration of What Makes You, You

Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, March 21st for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! After unfortunately cancelling last month’s cafe due to inclement weather, we will welcome Dylan Wood, AP Psychology teacher from Chapel Hill High School, for an in-depth look at the concept of nature versus nurture.Exploring the timeless debate of nature vs. nurture, this seminar delves into what makes individuals unique. We will examine the factors that shape personal preferences, behaviors, and inclinations, uncovering the psychological and environmental influences that drive what we like and how we see the world.

Our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!

The Morehead Teen Science Cafe is where learning meets fun in a space-themed setting. Located on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has a history of training astronauts for moon missions, has a giant dome theater, schedules frequent shows, and so much more.The right doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00ish.

About the Speaker

Dylan Wood is an award-winning AP Psychology teacher at Chapel Hill High School. He studied History and Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and later earned a Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his free time, he likes to read, coach track and field, and spend time with friends and family.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. The presentation and discussion will take place in our educational space.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Carolina Science Cafe | Red Wolves
2025-04-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
NC State’s Real Life Wolf Pack

Join us for the next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the April Cafe, we will be joined by Dr. Tara Harrison, an Associate Professor of Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine at NC State and faculty advisor for the Carnivore Conservation Crew, an organization that manages and cares for critically endangered red wolves as part of USFW and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE program for Red Wolves.

This presentation will introduce attendees to red wolves in North Carolina and the role that NC State College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU CVM) plays in helping conserve this critically endangered species. Red wolves are the most endangered canid species on the planet, and they are only native to North Carolina.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, April 1st, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees. Parking is available in the parking deck behind the building if the lot out front if full.

About the Speaker

Dr. Tara Harrison graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine with her DVM degree. Afterward, she earned a Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of California-Davis. She did veterinary internships at Toledo Zoo and Wildlife Safari. She has worked at Potter Park Zoo and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Michigan State University. She then went back to UC Davis and the Sacramento Zoo as an Assistant Professor.

She is currently an Associate Professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine Service. She is board certified in the American College of Zoological Medicine, the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and the European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management).

Learn More About Dr. Harrison’s Work

The Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

UNC Science Expo
2025-04-05 11:00 - 16:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Join us for one of the biggest science celebrations in the state!

Every year, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center hosts a day of science learning and fun for our community in partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, students, and staff.

The UNC Science Expo is a signature event of the annual North Carolina Science Festival and one of the biggest celebrations of science in the state. More than 100 booths staffed by UNC-Chapel Hill students, researchers, practitioners, and community volunteers fill the quads surrounding Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. From hands-on activities and games to science demonstrations and behind-the-scenes lab tours, the UNC Science Expo makes learning about science fun and engaging for people of all ages.

Spot, an agile mobile robot from Boston Dynamics, wows the crowd at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center as part of the UNC Science Expo on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Learn More About the UNC Science Expo

UNC Science Expo Parking

If you are attending the UNC Science Expo and plan to drive, please allow extra time for parking due to limited options caused by the Expo and other events in Chapel Hill. Please note that the parking lot in front of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (250 E Franklin Street) will be closed on April 5.

For campus parking options, please visit https://maps.unc.edu/parking/. Parking is also available in town lots and on the street, but public parking fees may apply. For more information about Town of Chapel Hill parking options, visit https://parkonthehill.com/.

Accessible parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Old East lot, located on E Cameron Ave between the New East and Old East buildings. A drop-off zone will be available at the Morehead lot throughout the event.

The Restless Universe (and the Periodic Table)
2025-04-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
About This Event

As a North Carolina Science Festival event, UNC’s Institute for Cosmology, Subatomic Matter & Symmetries invites you to Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for a special talk by distinguished speaker Shri Kulkarni of Caltech.

The Restless Universe (and the Periodic Table)

Following the Big Bang, the universe was uniform and devoid of chemistry – until stars forged the elements that makeup the periodic table. Astronomers have since uncovered numerous cosmic explosions, with supernovae being the most prominent.

The Palomar Transient Factory and its successor, the Zwicky Transient Factory (ZTF), have revolutionized our ability to detect these celestial events using cutting edge telescopes and advanced software. This talk will explore groundbreaking discoveries, from super-luminous supernovae to planets being consumed by aging stars, paving the way for the next generation of wide-field survey telescopes that will transform our view of the dynamic universe.

Carolina Science Cafe | Headline News: Critical Minerals
2025-05-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the May cafe, we will welcome Amy Pitts, Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach at the North Carolina Geological Survey.

If you’re paying attention to the current international news cycles, you’ve certainly heard about critical minerals and rare earth elements. If you been wondering why these minerals are making headlines, you’re not alone! Join us to find out what those critical minerals are, why we need them, why they’re so darn critical, and how the North Carolina Geological Survey is helping in the efforts to find them in our state.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, May 6th, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Amy Pitts, P.G. has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and a master’s degree in geology from the University of Florida. She’s been a geologist for 23 years and has worked as a hydrogeologist consultant, as a state regulator, and as a college instructor. Currently, she is the Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach for the North Carolina Geological Survey where she combines here two professional passions – geology and education.

Learn More

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Primate Survival
2025-06-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Growing up wild: The challenge of survival for young primates

Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the August cafe, we will welcome Dr. Susan Alberts, the Robert F. Durden Professor of Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University.

Many animals are ready to take on the world as soon as they hatch or are born – they can feed themselves, move where they need to go, and defend themselves against predators. Primates – including lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans – are not like this. They are not only born helpless, but they also develop very slowly, often requiring years to achieve full independence. In this presentation, we’ll talk about the survival gauntlet that young primates face in reaching adulthood, and we’ll hear some vivid examples of how their lives depend on the help of others, including mothers, other family members, age mates, and more distant adults. To tell these stories, Prof. Alberts will draw on her 40 years of experience studying the wild baboons of the Amboseli basin in southern Kenya.

Research in the Alberts Lab investigates the evolution of social behavior, particularly in mammals, with a specific focus on the social behavior, demography, life history, and behavioral endocrinology of wild primates. Their main study system is the baboon population in Amboseli, Kenya, one of the longest-running studies of wild primates in the world, ongoing since 1971.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the headlines. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on Tuesday, June 3rd, starting at 6:00 p.m. with light appetizers available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Susan Alberts is Dean of Natural Sciences in Trinity College of Arts & Science at Duke University, and The Robert F. Durden Distinguished Professor of Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology. She studies the behavior, ecology, physiology, and genetics of wild populations of large mammals, using longitudinal, individual-based data. She has spent 40 years studying wild baboons in Kenya, and she also studied the socioecology of African elephants for 10 years. She received her B.A. from Reed College, her Ph.D. from University of Chicago, and pursued postdoctoral research at the Harvard University Society of Fellows. She has been on the faculty at Duke University since 1998, supervising undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers. She spends several months each year at her field site in Kenya, and has two children, Michele aged 27 and Teresa aged 21. She is a member of National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Learn More!

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Chasing Awe
2025-07-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program. For the July cafe, we will welcome Dr. Sheila Kannappan, a professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UNC-Chapel Hill.

After chasing last year’s total solar eclipse to Texas, Kannappan decided to make 2024 the perfect Year of Awe by chasing the Northern Lights for two months in Minnesota in the fall. With solar activity at an 11-year maximum, she was lucky to see the aurora at least five times, depending on how you count. In this talk, Kannappan will share a taste of the wonders she witnessed and what she learned about how to maximize aurora chasing success.

Designed for adults, this program explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the work. The Carolina Science Cafe is hosted at Haw River Tab & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Sheila Kannappan has been on the faculty of the Physics & Astronomy Department at UNC-Chapel Hill since 2007. A recurring theme of her research is finding evidence that dwarf galaxies have much more exciting lives than previously thought: these supposedly boring galaxies turn out to be subject to overwhelming gas inflows from the cosmos, which fuel both exponential growth via star formation and unexpectedly widespread activity in massive black holes.

In 2024, Dr. Kannappan retired from teaching and began pursuing travel, writing, and public speaking related to sharing astronomical awe. She is no stranger to learning on the fly, having taught astronomy for 17 years with degrees only in physics (BA and PhD) and in the history of science (MA), all from Harvard.

Her commitment to education and public outreach in North Carolina began before graduate school, when she spent two years as a 9th-grade teacher in Rocky Mount through Teach for America. That experience fueled a lifelong passion for educational equity and inspiring young people.

Learn More

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Filter Bubbles and Data Voids
2025-08-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Filter Bubbles and Data Voids: How Online Search Shapes What We See—and What We Don’t

Join us for the next installment of Carolina Science Cafe, our current science awareness program! Co-hosted by Morehead, UNC School of Data Science and Society, and UNC School of Information and Library Science, we will welcome Dr. Francesca Tripodi of UNC-Chapel Hill and the Data & Society Research Institute.

These days, searching for information online is something we all do—whether we’re planning a trip, checking a news story, or trying to settle a debate at the dinner table. But the way we search, and what we find, is changing fast. In this talk, we’ll take a closer look at how search works beneath the surface—and why that matters. We’ll explore how the words we choose when we search reflect our own viewpoints, and how those words shape the answers we get back. We’ll also look at how websites like Wikipedia, search engines, and AI tools like ChatGPT are all connected—and how missing information in one place can ripple across the internet. One key idea we’ll dive into is “data voids”—gaps where little reliable information exists, leaving room for people to spread misleading or manipulative content. By understanding these gaps and how they’re filled, we can start to see how search shapes what we know, what we miss, and what we believe.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Francesca Tripodi (she/her) is a sociologist and information scholar whose research examines the relationship between technology and society. She is an Associate Professor at the School of Information and Library Science and a Principal Investigator at the Center for Information Technology and Public Life (CITAP) at UNC-Chapel Hill, and an affiliate researcher (former postdoctoral scholar) at Data & Society Research Institute. She has twice testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (April 10, 2019, and July 16, 2019) to explain how relevance is gamed to drive ideologically based queries and spread conspiratorial logic.

In addition to her research on search engines, Dr. Tripodi’s work documents how race and gender impact perceived notability, highlighting that cisgender women are nearly twice as likely to be considered non-notable subjects as their cis-male peers. Along with her Co-PIs at MIT and Stanford, Dr. Tripodi received a National Science Foundation Accelerator Award in 2021 to study how people find information and build tools to enhance and enable search literacy.

In December 2023, Dr. Tripodi was a featured guest on an episode of Meet the Press to discuss the dangers of online education tools like PragerU. Her work has also been highlighted on All Things Considered (NPR), the Financial Times, and the Associated Press. She has also written about her work in Wired, Slate, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In addition to these featured segments, Dr. Tripodi’s research is regularly cited by esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, TIME, and The Guardian. In recognition of her impact, Dr. Tripodi received the Award for Impact and Excellence in 2023 from the Center for the Informed Public at the University of Washington.

Find Dr. Tripodi on Bluesky.

Learn More

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe | Floods, Forecasts, and the Future
2025-09-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Floods, Forecasts, and the Future: Rethinking Risk in a Changing Climate

Model results for Hurricane Florence (2018) flooding across eastern North Carolina.

Flooding is one of the most costly and frequent natural hazards in the United States, and its impacts are growing due to climate change, urban development, and aging infrastructure. In this talk, Dr. Antonia Sebastian will explore how science, data, and community knowledge come together to help us better understand—and adapt to—evolving flood risks.

Drawing on her research in North Carolina and beyond, Dr. Sebastian will share how new models and data are being used to uncover patterns of exposure, assess who is most vulnerable, and inform smarter, more equitable approaches to resilience. She will also discuss how local stories of adaptation, from rural coastal towns to urban neighborhoods, offer powerful insights into what it means to live with water in a warming world. Delving into common questions like “Is it really flooding more often?” and “What is the 100-year flood?”, Dr. Sebastian will speak about what we know about floods and what drives them to help make sense of the changing risks we face and how we can prepare for a wetter, more uncertain future.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Antonia Sebastian is a flood scientist who studies how people and places are affected by extreme weather and what we can do to build a safer, more resilient future. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she holds a joint appointment in the Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences and the Environment, Ecology and Energy Program (E3P). Dr. Sebastian’s research blends cutting-edge data and computer models to answer questions like: Who gets hit hardest when floods happen? Why are some communities able to bounce back faster than others? And how can we better prepare for the next big storm?

Prior to joining the faculty at UNC, Sebastian was an Associate Research Scientist at Texas A&M University at Galveston (2017-2019), where she helped to establish the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT). She has also held positions as a postdoctoral researcher (2016-2017) and Netherlands-America Foundation (NAF)/Fulbright Flood Management Fellow (2014-2015) in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Sebastian currently serves as a member of the Board of Deltares USA, a Guest Editor for the journal of Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) scientific committees on Climate Adaptation and Coastal Engineering Sciences.

View Dr. Sebastian’s Work

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Carolina Science Cafe: Stellar Evolution, Interrupted
2025-10-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E Main St C, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Stellar Evolution, Interrupted

(Credit: Stocktrek Images/Getty Images)

Open up any introductory astronomy textbook, and you can read about how stars like the Sun evolve from one stage of stellar evolution to the next. However, these textbook descriptions often overlook one important fact: most stars are in binary systems with other stellar or substellar companions, and their presence can greatly impact how the story of stellar evolution plays out.

In October’s Carolina Science Cafe, Dr. Brad Barlow, an Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy at UNC-Chapel Hill, will discuss how his research group uses data from ground- and space-based observatories to discover and characterize special types of stars called hot subdwarfs that are the products of binary interactions. The broader impacts of this work touch on gravitational wave physics, Type Ia supernovae, the impact of late-stage stellar evolution on exoplanets, and more.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Brad Barlow (he/him) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before that, he spent 11 years working as an Associate Professor of Astrophysics and Director of the Culp Planetarium at High Point University. Dr. Barlow received a B.S. in physics from Mississippi State University in 2006, a Ph.D. in physics (astronomy concentration) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011, and he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Pennsylvania State University from 2011-2013.

His research primarily focuses on pulsating stars, late stellar evolution, and binary star systems. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, he helped develop software for the Goodman spectrograph on the 4.1-m SOAR telescope on Cerro Pachon in Chile. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Brad did his undergraduate studies at Mississippi State University. His other interests include playing the piano, writing music, cycling, and public outreach.

View Dr. Barlow’s Work

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!
