Dr. Pamela L. Gay is an astronomer, technologist, and creative focused on using new media to engage people in learning and doing science. Join her as we map our Solar System in unprecedented detail through citizen science projects at CosmoQuest.org, and learn astronomy through media productions like Astronomy Cast & EVSN.tv.

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Need someone to science your audience? Want to learn more about astronomy’s latest discoveries, the role of everyday people in exploring our universe through citizen science, or someone to talk about how the astronomy advances at the speed of computing thanks to innovations in AI/ML, GPUs, and more? I am available for your IRL or virtual event. 

Current Projects & Collaborations

Essays & Articles

Setting up a quick and dirty EC2 LAMP stack

Setting up a quick and dirty EC2 LAMP stack

Ok, sometimes you just need a tiny computer to sit there and do something undisturbed where no one is going to turn it off. The problem I have at the moment is I'm traveling so my laptop is on again off again, so it can't be trusted to have nice things processes....

Doing more with #scicomm

Doing more with #scicomm

Sometimes a confluence of events puts you in a position to think through how you can make what you do more meaningful. For me that confluence of events came last week when I sat down to prepare my presentation for the MAVEN New Media Workshop. I was slated to discuss...

“What you don’t know would make a great book.”

“What you don’t know would make a great book.”

Over the past few weeks, several stories have hit the news that the average, mainstream/majority person has often struggled to fully understand and to discuss with sensitivity. Topics range from the mishandled coverage of Caitlyn Jenner's eloquent coming out in Vogue,...

The problem with “Unbelievable”

The problem with “Unbelievable”

Lately, I've heard a lot of people say, "Did you see? Isn't that so unbelievable?" These words have usually been uttered in reference to media coverage of authority figures acting in sexist, bigoted, racist, or otherwise intolerant or amoral ways. Basically, when...

Redefining “real”

Redefining “real”

This blog has gone largely silent for far too long while I've put my efforts into trying to raise funds for CosmoQuest, and move other projects forward. At this point, all the proposals that matter are submitted and all the work that was deemed most dire is done. It...

Fighting to Stay

Fighting to Stay

There are days when I wonder how much longer I can make it in science as a woman. There are days when I’m not sure I can keep fighting against the bias, the bigotry, and the hate. And there are days when I’m not sure if I can remain competitive in this man’s world...

P.G. Holyfield: Bearing Witness to Life

P.G. Holyfield: Bearing Witness to Life

At roughly 11:20pm Wednesday August 20, 2014, author, podcaster, and father P.G. Holyfield died surrounded by love. I was one of the many there able to say good bye. I was there; I was sitting at the top of his bed stroking his hair. Both his hands were being held....

My mistake of silence

My mistake of silence

In 2008, I made a mistake. Actually, I made a lot of mistakes, but only one of them has haunted me. On Wednesday, I learned that there are at least two audio recordings of a meeting at a non-profit. In this meeting my mistake was discussed and now there is the chance...

Confessions of a Reluctant (Academic) Manager

Confessions of a Reluctant (Academic) Manager

This semi-rant goes out to academics PIs. I'm soft money faculty. This means my salary comes mostly from grants, sometimes from random writing/performing gigs, and then my university pays a small percent that gets used to cover the time I spend fundraising/writing...