PATHWAYS Series with Erik Zaborowski: Exploring the Universe with Telescopes

Join Erik Zaborowski to explore how telescopes and galaxy surveys reveal how the Universe evolved. Join Erik Zaborowski of the Ohio State University Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics (CCAPP) for a virtual PATHWAYS talk on observational cosmology, where he explores how powerful telescopes and surveys, from projects like Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), his own collaboration, to space-based observatories, help us understand how the Universe evolved and what it reveals about our place in it. He’ll also touch on the bigger-picture questions these discoveries raise, including the ethical and policy challenges shaping the future of space science and exploration. Observational cosmology enables the study of a Universe far beyond the reach of spacecraft by using advanced telescopes and large-scale surveys to trace its evolution from the Big Bang to the present day. Projects such as the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument collaboration (DESI), along with space-based observatories, have significantly expanded the understanding of cosmic structure and development. These efforts not only deepen scientific knowledge but also raise important ethical and policy considerations regarding the future of space science and exploration.