The PAM Talks

Dr. Pooja Woosaree and Dr. Pamela Freeman recorded this episode in December 2024, shortly after both of their PhD defences. They recap the highs and the lows, the trials and the joys of graduate school. They chat about their thesis research, the opportunities for international collaboration, their personal journeys through university, and the community they had at the University of Calgary (Pamela: maybe the real research was the friends we made along the way). With a bonus topic: why this podcast is named the PAM Talks! Pooja’s PhD: ‘First Measurement of Antihydrogen Free Fall Using a Radial Time Projection Chamber’, is explored in PAM Talks episode 1.5.1. Pamela’s PhD: ‘Chemical Diversity in High-Mass Star-Forming Regions', will be explored in a future episode; for more radio astronomy, see Dr. Anna Ordog’s PAM Talks episode 1.0.1. Edited and produced by: Dr. Pamela Freeman The PAM Talks gratefully acknowledges support from the University of Calgary Graduate Student Association Quality Money grant program.

Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just southwest of Calgary, the University of Calgary’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory supports research, teaching, and public outreach in astronomy and science. Jennifer Howse, the Observatory’s Education Specialist, oversees its outreach and school programs, helping connect people of all ages to the night sky. In this interview, PhD student Solveig Thompson speaks with Jennifer about the importance of science communication, our connection to the sky across the generations through storytelling, and the growing need to protect our dark skies. The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory is located under the starry skies of the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). Information about upcoming public nights at the Rothney Observatory can be found at https://science.ucalgary.ca/rothney-observatory/public-events. Mentor: Jennifer Howse, Education Specialist, Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, University of Calgary Host: Solveig Thompson, astrophysics PhD student, University of Calgary Edited by: Josué Ibarra Molinas, physics PhD student, University of Calgary Produced by: Becky Booth, astrophysics PhD student, University of Calgary The PAM Talks gratefully acknowledges support from the University of Calgary Graduate Student Association Quality Money grant program.

Claudia Gomes da Rocha, an Associate Professor and theoretical condensed matter physicist at the University of Calgary, is in conversation with Jane Cohen-Wallis, an engineering physics undergraduate student from Queen's University. They discuss choosing a research path, their experiences with physics, how computers are integral to physics research, and what condensed matter physics even is. The PAM Talks team is working hard on preparing our continued line-up of Season 2 interviews. While you wait, you can listen to these "Season 1.5" epsiodes, which will be audio versions of our original PAM Talks youtube series. Dr. Gomes da Rocha has been an important supporter of the PAM Talks, acting as a mentor to this team both during this interview and as this project has evolved. At the time of recording Dr. Gomes da Rocha was an Assistant Professor but has since been promoted to Associate Professor. The whole PAM Talks team congratulates her on reaching this milestone and celebrates her ongoing career success. Mentor: Dr. Claudia Gomes da Rocha, Associate Professor and Associate Head EDI, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, and full member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Host: Jane Cohen-Wallis, undergraduate student, Queen's University Produced and edited by: Dr. Davor Curic, University of Calgary The PAM Talks gratefully acknowledges support from the University of Calgary Graduate Student Association Quality Money grant program. Click here for the episode transcript

In this episode, Dr. Emma Spanswick discusses how her cross-disciplinary team leverages the expertise of physicists, engineers, and computer scientists to uncover the impacts of the space environment on Earth’s atmosphere.

Dr. Jo-Anne Brown is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. Dr. Brown's radio astronomy research focuses on measuring the Galactic magnetic field. Over the years, she has supervised numerous graduate students, including Dr. Anna Ordog, who was featured in episode 1.0.1 of The PAM Talks podcast. In this episode, Dr. Brown joins Jia Yi Ren, an undergraduate student in astrophysics, to discuss shifting career paths and exploring new ideas about the 3D configuration of the magnetic field in our Milky Way Galaxy. The PAM Talks team is working hard on preparing a fantastic line-up of Season 2 interviews. While you wait, you can listen to these "Season 1.5" epsiodes, which will be audio versions of our original PAM Talks youtube series. Host: Jia Yi Ren, undergraduate student, University of Calgary Produced and edited by: Dr. Davor Curic, University of Calgary The PAM Talks gratefully acknowledges support from the University of Calgary Graduate Student Association Quality Money grant program. Click here for the episode transcript

What would happen if the Earth experienced a severe geomagnetic storm? Blackouts? Loss of communication networks? Satellite failure? In this episode of The PAM Talks, host Ciara Chisholm explores this question and more with guest mentor, Dr. Laura Mazzino, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary specializing in space physics. Dr. Mazzino shares her journey from humble beginnings in Argentina to her current role, an inspiring story of perseverance and determination. Through her expertise, she explains the potential impacts of geomagnetic storms on our technology, including disruptions to satellite communication and power grids. We learn about the interconnectedness of space weather and its effects on Earth, highlighting the importance of studying and understanding these phenomena. Host: Ciara Chisholm, Masters Student, University of Calgary Edited by: Anja Rabus, Masters Student, University of Calgary Produced by: Becky Booth, PhD Candidate, Astrophysics, University of Calgary The PAM Talks gratefully acknowledges support from the University of Calgary Graduate Student Association Quality Money grant program. Click here for the episode transcript

Explore the world of mathematical modeling with Jenny Lawson, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, as she unravels the profound impact of math on real-world issues like fisheries sustainability. Join us as we celebrate Pi Day by delving into the beauty and significance of mathematics beyond textbooks and stereotypes.

The Milky Way Galaxy, much like the Sun and Earth, possesses a magnetic field crucial for star formation and maintaining the Galactic disk’s structure. Despite its significance, the Galactic magnetic field remains poorly understood due to challenges in direct observation, as discussed by Dr. Anna Ordog in a radio astronomy-focused interview led by PhD student Pooja Woosaree on the PAM Talks podcast.