St. Thomas Aquinas College to Host Astronomy and Scientific Discovery Panel Discussion
– To Be Followed by Community Observation Night at the SKAE Astronomy Center –
St. Thomas Aquinas College invites the community to attend the Astronomy and Scientific Discovery Panel Discussion on Tuesday, February 10, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the Lougheed Library Reading Room. This free event is open to the public and will explore how astronomy and scientific inquiry shape our understanding of the universe and inspire future discovery.
“We are excited to welcome the community to campus for an engaging exploration of astronomy and scientific discovery,” said Ken Daly, President of St. Thomas Aquinas College. “This panel builds on the momentum of our seminal SKAE Astronomy Center opening in the fall and reflects our commitment to expanding hands-on, discovery-driven learning. By bringing experts and members of the College’s broader community to our students, we are creating opportunities to deepen understanding of astronomy and the scientific process.”
The panel will be moderated by Dr. Heather Rave, Professor of Physics at St. Thomas Aquinas College, and will explore current topics in astronomy and scientific research, the role of observation and data in advancing knowledge, and the impact of STEM innovation on society.
“The STEM Advisory Board at St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to support this panel as a way to spark curiosity and deepen the community’s engagement with astronomy and the sciences,” said Robert Catell, Chair of the College’s STEM Advisory Board; Chairman of the Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center; former Chairman of the National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium; and former Chairman and CEO of KeySpan. “Astronomy uniquely captures the imagination while reinforcing the importance of observation, data, and inquiry, foundational skills that drive scientific advancement and innovation across STEM fields.”
A Q&A and networking session will follow the discussion. To register for the panel discussion, please visit: stac.edu/stempanel.
Following the panel, attendees are invited to participate in a Community Observation Night at 7:30 PM at the College’s SKAE Astronomy Center, where guests will have the opportunity to observe celestial objects using state-of-the-art telescopes. This portion of the evening is also free and open to the public, with registration required. Please visit: stac.edu/night.
St. Thomas Aquinas College’s School of STEM offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to blend academic rigor with hands-on learning and real-world application. Through cutting-edge facilities, faculty expertise, and community-focused events, the School of STEM fosters curiosity, innovation, and career readiness across disciplines including astronomy, physics, biology, mathematics, computer science, and emerging technologies. To learn more, visit: stac.edu/sos.
About St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 76 acres in Rockland County, NY, providing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s diverse student body of approximately 2,000 full and part-time students can choose from over 100 majors, minors, and specializations across four Schools: Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and STEM. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, and by Colleges of Distinction in its New York edition for Business, Education, and Career Development. The College is also recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Program institution. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and its School of Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu.