I attended undergrad at a very small liberal arts college, Kalamazoo College, and can speak to the adjustment period of moving to a larger school, especially as I came from a pretty limited physics department. Luckily for me, I haven’t had to adjust to the climate here, as the weather here (especially the winters) are pretty similar to the Midwest!
In my free time, I work in a studio at a local makers’ space called Artisan’s Asylum on stained glass (since broken glass and a small apartment don’t mix well). I’d love to get back into my undergrad love for ceramics once my schedule (and paycheck) allows, but stained glass and a PhD keeps me busy enough for now!
I’ve also started experimenting with screen printing as of late, and somehow managed to make my first project a series of ~25 shirts for my research collaborators! We’ve certainly made H₃⁺ research look like a cult now
Leaning back into astronomy, as a nonbinary scientist (in-training), I am working to expand my network to include other minority, especially LGBT+, scientists. Supporting each other and making a mark in the world of science is the best way to encourage the younger generation as they look for themselves in current experts. Please feel welcome to reach out to me!