Professor Konopacky Talk

Existence-of-Newly-Found-Exoplanet-Cannot-Be-Explained-2

On Feb 23rd Professor Quin Konopacky, an astrophysics professor here at UCSD, gave a presentation on her research to UWIP members.  Her work in observational astrophysics focuses on star, planet, and solar system formation and evolution. Her work also involves taking direct images of exoplanets using adaptive optics techniques with ground based telescopes, resulting in images like the one above. Using adaptive optics enables researchers to study planets that are much larger and further away from their stars than can be done with other techniques.  If you would like to learn more about her research, you can visit her website here: http://dunlap.utoronto.ca/~konopacky/index.html

Alternative Careers in Patent Law

10978596_10202785215746358_3259584388053034589_n

On February 19th Michelle Gross, a patent attorney and Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s law school gave a presentation to UCSD physics, chemistry, and biology students on alternative careers in patent law that do not require a law degree. There, students had the opportunity to learn what about it means to be a patent lawyer, why patents lawyers are in such high demand, why scientists and engineers are so desirable for the position, and about the unique Master’s program offered by ASU (developed in part by Michelle Gross herself) that is designed to prepare students for careers in patent law and beyond.