"The Women of the Harvard Observatory" By Dr. Chris Talpas
This talk will examine the significant astronomical contributions from a number of pioneering women astronomers associated with the Harvard Observatory during the late 1800s to early 1900s. This work includes spectral classification of stars, the use of variable stars to measure distances, and the determination of the elemental composition of stars.
Bio:
Chris developed an interest in astronomy when in grade 4 his parents bought him "Stars -A Golden Nature Guide" as a souvenir from their trip to South Carolina. At first it didn't seem fair, that he got a book while his siblings received toys. But upon cracking open the book, a life-long love affair with the heavens started. A year later with the purchase of a used 4.5 inch Newtonian, the deal was sealed. It was fortunate that a neighbour, Bert Huneault, was active in amateur astronomy and regularly took him to meetings of the Windsor centre of RASC, where he became one of its youngest members at age 11. Chris wanted to be an astrophysicist throughout most of high school but was swayed over to the dark side of biochemistry when going off to university since it was another subject he loved and it offered better job prospects. He went on to complete a doctorate in biochemistry and relocated to the GTA to pursue a career in the biopharmaceutical field where he spent nearly 25 years. Chris is currently V.P. of Quality Assurance and Scientific affairs at MediPharm Labs in Barrie. His current astronomical interest is in the area of astrophotography.
