133. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein with Jaleesa Trapp: Dark Matter, The Physics of Melanin, & Dreams Deferred

<p><strong>Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is one of the leading physicists of her generation. She is also one of fewer than 100 Black American women to earn a PhD from a department of physics.</strong> Her vision of the cosmos is vibrant, buoyantly non-traditional, and grounded in Black feminist traditions.</p> <p><a href= "https://townhallseattle.org/event/chanda-prescod-weinstein-with-jaleesa-trapp-livestream/"> The star theoretical physicist joined us in conversation with STEM educator and PhD student Jaleesa Trapp</a> to take us on a journey into the world of particle physics and the cosmos–and present a call for a more just practice of science. Sharing from her book <em>The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred</em>, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein introduced us to her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of Dark Matter–all with a new spin informed by history, politics, and the wisdom of Star Trek. While love of Star Trek is universal, Prescod-Weinstein and Trapp brought physics into the personal realm, seriously urging us to recognize how science, like most fields, is rife with racism, sexism, and other dehumanizing systems. Join Dr. Prescod-Weinstein as she layed out a bold new approach to science and society that begins with the belief that we all have a fundamental right to know and love the night sky, dreaming into existence a world that allows everyone to experience and understand the wonders of the universe.</p> <p><strong>Chanda Prescod-Weinstein</strong> is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. She is also a columnist for <em>New Scientist</em> and <em>Physics World</em>. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, neuron stars, and dark matter. She also does research in Black feminist science, techonlogy, and sociology studies.</p> <p><strong>Jaleesa Trapp</stro