On a mission to expand access to STEM knowledge, AUI’s Kelsey Underwood sits down with experts to discuss their latest breakthroughs in science and technology and their impact on astronomy, energy, education and beyond.
Beyond the Breakthrough | kunderwood Skip to main content Cancel Home Subscribe Profile Beyond the Breakthrough https://feed.podbean.com/beyondthebreakthrough/feed.xml Share RSS On a mission to expand access to STEM knowledge, AUI’s Kelsey Underwood sits down with experts to discuss their latest breakthroughs in science and technology and their impact on astronomy, energy, education and beyond. On a mission to expand access to STEM knowledge, AUI’s Kelsey Underwood sits down with experts to discuss their latest breakthroughs in science and technology and their impact on astronomy, energy, education and beyond. Episodes Jun 25, 2026 Operating the World’s Largest Astronomy Observatory Jun 25, 2026 Jun 25, 2026 22 min Paulina Bocaz, assistant director at ALMA Observatory, shares what it takes to operate the world’s most powerful radio astronomy observatory in the world. Links ALMA Observatory NRAO at ALMA Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Please note: The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a global collaboration between the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the U.S. National Science Foundation's National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ALMA's partner organizations. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share May 27, 2026 Making the Universe Accessible to Students with Robotics May 27, 2026 May 27, 2026 14 min Rachel Freed, Santa Barbara Education and Outreach Coordinator at Las Cumbres Observatory, and Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht, Deputy Director of Education and Public Engagement at AUI, discuss how robotic telescopes are changing science education by allowing students to learn through real-world research. Links Las Cumbres Observatory Global Sky Partners Skynet Robotic Telescope Network Journal Article: Self-efficacy changes and gender effects on self-efficacy in a large-scale robotic telescope focused curriculum Journal Article: Astronomy Research Seminar Expansion and Building a Community-of-Practice Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Please note: "Our Place in Space" is an interactive, undergraduate-level astronomy curriculum developed with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation and AUI. Student research was made possible by the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network. The Las Cumbres Observatory also supports student research through its own program, Global Sky Partners. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF or LCO. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Apr 29, 2026 Making Sense of the Unknown Apr 29, 2026 Apr 29, 2026 19 min Tim Spuck, director of education and public engagement at AUI, and Gretchen Stahlman, assistant professor at Florida State, explain why stigma surrounding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) research exists and how improved data collection and analysis can advance science and national security. Links NASA UAP Independent Study AARO Website National Archives UAP Records Gretchen Stahlman's Journal Article AARO 2025 Workshop Report Society for UAP Studies 2025 Workshop Article National UFO Reporting Center 2025 Workshop Article AUI 2024 Workshop Executive Summary Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Please note: the 2024 workshop, “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: A Dialogue on Science, Public Engagement and Communication” was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, award 2301922. The 2025 workshop, "Narrative Data, Infrastructures, and Analysis” was supported by the U.S. All-domain Anomaly Office. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF or ARRO. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Mar 25, 2026 Fostering Collaboration to Accelerate Astronomy Education and Outreach Mar 25, 2026 Mar 25, 2026 24 min Anica Miller-Rushing, Yasmin Catricheo and Nicolas Bonne, leaders of ASTRO ACCEL, discuss the value in international collaboration in astronomy education and outreach, and how the online Commons platform enables unique partnerships to advance the field. Links Join ASTRO ACCEL Tactile Universe Project AUI Education and Public Engagement Programs Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook References Thieman, J., Ng, C., Lewis, E., & Cline, T. (2010). Sun-Earth days. In J. Barnes, D. A. Smith, M. G. Gibbs, & J. G. Manning (Eds.), Science education and outreach: Forging a path to the future (Vol. 431, p. 115). Astronomical Society of the Pacific. https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2010ASPC..431..115T View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Feb 25, 2026 Capturing Dark Skies Feb 25, 2026 Feb 25, 2026 26 min Bettymaya Foott, astrophotographer and communicator for DarkSky International, and Jeff Hellerman, art director at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory and dark sky photographer, discuss the role of astrophotography in astronomy and their experience shooting at the Very Large Array. Links National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Website Very Large Array (VLA) Website Very Large Array Astrophotography Project Gallery Dark Sky International Dark Sky Week DarkSky Advocate Network International Dark Sky Places Map Light Pollution Map Bettymaya Foott's Instagram Jeff Hellerman's Instagram Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Please note: The Very Large Array and National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Jan 28, 2026 Informing and Inspiring the Public Through Film Jan 28, 2026 Jan 28, 2026 22 min Jill Malusky, senior news and public information manager at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory, discusses how science films, both factual and fictional, impact the science field and the process of filming projects, like Apple TV’s “Pluribus”, on site. Links National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Website Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website Very Large Array (VLA) Website Pluribus First Scene NRAO Social Media Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Please note: The Green Bank Observatory, Very Large Array and National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Oct 29, 2025 Securing the U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain Oct 29, 2025 Oct 29, 2025 16hr 29 min Ben Kolendar, World Trade Center Utah, and Matt Schaub, AUI, reflect on the United States’ history with critical minerals and propose solutions to better secure their supply chain. Learn more AUI Website World Trade Center Utah Join Our Online Community LinkedIn Instagram Facebook View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Sep 24, 2025 Advancing Science with Technology Transfer Sep 24, 2025 Sep 24, 2025 19 min Bert Hawkins, assistant director of the Central Development Laboratory at the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), and Jeff Pixton, technology transfer manager at the NSF NRAO, explain the basics of technology transfer and the benefits for science and beyond. Learn more AUI Website Central Development Lab Tech Transfer at NRAO Join Our Online Community LinkedIn Instagram Facebook The Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Aug 27, 2025 Improving Planetary Defense with Radar Aug 27, 2025 Aug 27, 2025 20 min Will Armentrout, U.S. airman and astronomer, returns to explain planetary defense and discuss the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Observatory’s ngRADAR project. Links National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website ngRADAR Tycho Crater image Will's Website Related Episodes Breaking Down Radio Astronomy Capturing Cosmic Data With Radar Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Please note: the Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval. View more Listen Now Likes Download Share Aug 11, 2025 Beyond the Episode: Learning on Expedition Aug 11, 2025 Aug 11, 2025 14 min Kat Troche and Sarah Treadwell are back for a bonus episode to share their experiences from place-based education programs operated by AUI and its partners. Both science outreach professionals participated in the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program (ACEAP) and Sarah took part in the Mission Patagonia program as well. AUI's Place-Based Learning Programs Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program Mission Patagonia Program Learn More Astronomical Society of the Pacific Night Sky Network Solar System Ambassadors Amateur Astronomers Association Blue Marble Institute of Science Linktree Connect With Kat Website Instagram BlueSky TikTok Facebook Threads Connect With Sarah Facebook X Instagram TikTok Connect With AUI Website LinkedIn Instagram…