Science Cafe at Overton Park: Watching a Galaxy Seed its Environment

Unwind after the workday at Science Café, a happy hour series hosted by Overton Park Conservancy at the Golf Clubhouse. Enjoy drinks and discussion with guest speakers who share fresh perspectives from the world of science. No background knowledge needed—just curiosity!

This month: Growing in the Wind: Watching a Galaxy Seed Its Environment with Dr. David Rupke of Rhodes College

Far from being Kant’s “island universes,” galaxies are at the heart of a dynamic ecosystem that spans the cosmos. Their stars produce heavy elements, which in a giant recycling loop become parts of other stars and planets. Some of these elements are ejected out of galaxies into the vast space between them, forming the extremely diffuse gas known as the intergalactic medium. So what’s going on in the biggest vacuum in the universe? Dr. David Rupke will introduce us to the intergalactic landscape and illustrate how astronomers are seeing it in action using ground- and space-based telescopes.

Dr. David Rupke grew up watching the sky using a small backyard telescope in rural Appalachia, and has been privileged to have access to some of the best modern instruments–built by skilled scientists and engineers–to observe distant galaxies. He teaches physics, astronomy, and environmental science at Rhodes College, and bikes through Overton Park most days on his way to work.