COSMIC MAPS Talk Series with Dr. Gregory Mack

836M is excited to partner with The David Rumsey Map Center and Stanford Libraries on Cosmic Maps, an exhibition that transports visitors to outer space. It showcases a curated selection of print and digital maps from the collection spanning modernity to the present day.

In line with 836M’s 2024 theme “Beyond Frontiers,” which spotlights artists and thinkers whose work transcends physical, cultural, intellectual, or disciplinary boundaries to produce new ideas and experiences, this exhibition is accompanied by a talk series featuring distinguished guest speakers, covering topics ranging from “galactic cannibalism” to interpreting the history of the cosmos through dance.

Among the speakers are Dr. Gregory Mack, a science program officer focusing on astrophysics at The Kavli Foundation, Dr. Bruce McIntosh, the Director of the University of California Observatories, Dr. Natalie Batalha, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, and Dr. Raja GuhaThakurta, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Speaker Schedule

Thursday, June 20, 6:30-8:30 pm - Talk at 836M with Dr. Gregory Mack
Thursday, June 27, 6:30-8:30 pm - Talk at 836M with Dr. Bruce McIntosh & Dr. Natalie Batalha
Thursday, July 11, 6:30-8:30 pm - Talk at 836M with Dr. Raja GuhaThakurta


Image: (Composite to) Astronomia. London. Published by F.G. Moon, 20 Threadneedle Street, 1829. Courtesy of The David Rumsey Map Center at the Stanford Libraries.

Gregory Mack, Ph.D., is a science program officer focusing on astrophysics at The Kavli Foundation, which is a private philanthropic foundation based in Los Angeles that supports astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, and theoretical physics research. Prior to joining the foundation, he held roles at the National Academy of Sciences, the American Physical Society (the main professional society for physicists in the US), and the National Science Foundation, all involving work in different aspects of the fields of physics and astronomy.

Prior to his transition to the policy, management, and philanthropic side of science, Dr. Mack was an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH, from 2009-2013. Having trained in ballet and modern dance, he also has investigated ways to integrate art and science. At Ohio Wesleyan, he crafted a science talk about the history of the universe which used dancers instead of traditional slides in 2012, and he also co-choreographed and performed a modern dance work inspired by mathematics principles for the Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences in 2015. He was a dancer with Hixon Dance, a modern dance company based in Columbus, Ohio, and has collaborated with the company in the creation of dance works that were inspired by and incorporated physics and astronomy concepts.

Dr. Mack earned his Ph.D. in physics from The Ohio State University in 2008 specializing in theoretical particle astrophysics and cosmology, and for his undergraduate education he received B.A. degrees in physics and astronomy from Ohio Wesleyan.