Photo by Gretchen Baker
We are proud to congratulate the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) on being awarded a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) – a recognition of the university’s commitment to advancing both cutting-edge astrophysics research and community-based education. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it reflects the strength of the partnership between UNR, Great Basin National Park Foundation, and the Great Basin Observatory (GBO).
The Great Basin Observatory (GBO), located in Great Basin National Park, is the first research-grade observatory built in a U.S. national park. Since its founding, it has served as both a scientific resource and an educational gateway – allowing students and researchers to explore the universe from one of the darkest places in the country. UNR had been part of the GBO collaborative since its inception.
Dr. Richard Plotkin, a physics professor at UNR and GBO partner, authored the NSF proposal with UNR colleague Dr. Sergiu Dascalu, professor of computer science and engineering. The connection between the two faculty members is itself a testament to the collaborative spirit fostered by the GBO. Plotkin recalls:
“A nice GBO backstory is that the co-principal investigator on the grant, Prof. Sergiu Dascalu, is in computer science and engineering at UNR. I met Sergiu through Alexis Tudor, who did a GBO-based master’s thesis in computer science and engineering, and Alexis asked the two of us to co-advise her thesis. Without Alexis and the GBO, I wouldn’t have begun working with Sergiu, and this grant wouldn’t have taken shape in this direction. It’s one way that GBO has helped facilitate cross-discipline connections that benefit science.”
Middle school is a pivotal moment in a student’s journey through the “STEM pipeline.” By using the natural wonder of Nevada’s night skies as a gateway, the program sparks curiosity and shows students – many of whom may be first-generation college aspirants – that they, too, can be scientists.
Since 2022, the program has reached 500+ students with lessons that incorporate data from the GBO, including galaxy images and exoplanet transit light curves. Assessments have shown that after being part of programs, students have more confidence in their scientific understanding, and 85% express interest in learning more about astronomy.
The new NSF grant will help bring more lessons to several thousand middle school students over the next three years in collaboration with Great Basin National Park Foundation’s Dark Skies, Bright Minds education program and UNR’s NevadaTeach. The NSF grant also supports fundamental astrophysics research at UNR, particularly in the study of black holes that lie within binary star systems.
By bridging high-level research with community education, the grant reflects the holistic mission of both UNR and Great Basin National Park Foundation: to expand human knowledge while inspiring the next generation of explorers.
