WELCOME TO MY COSMIC CORNER
Parisa Nozari PhD Candidate
The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy
office : stirling hall room 354, 64 bader lane kingstone, ON K7L 3N6
WELCOME
HELLO WORLD!
I'm Parisa, a Ph.D. Candidate in Astronomy specializing in star formation, particularly the
evolution of dust grains in the interstellar medium and the impact of massive stars on ionized
Hydrogen (HII) regions, which plays a crucial role in the star formation process. I began my
Ph.D. in September 2023, following the completion of my MSc at Queen's University in August
2023, where I focused on the unique dust emission in the Orion molecular cloud and measured
physical properties of dust grains, including their sizes.
In addition to my research, I'm passionate about science outreach, communication, and community
engagement. I'm available for local stargazing sessions and speaking engagements at schools and
STEM events in Kingston and Montreal area.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Star formation, Interstellar Medium (ISM), Dust grains, Massive star formation, Photo-dissociation regions (PDRS), HII regions, Radio astronomy, interferometers.
BIO
I've been passionate about space for as long as I can remember. My love for astrophysics really took off when I got my first telescope at ten years old. It was a bit tricky to figure out at first and I could barely manage to point it at the Moon! But that small glimpse of the night sky fueled my curiosity.
Later, as an undergrad studying physics at Shiraz University in Iran, I had the chance to work on projects at Birouni Observatory, and that's where my journey really began.
In my undergraduate studies, I started my astronomy outreach journey by leading astronomy tours, operating telescopes and sharing the magic of the stars with visitors. Now, at Queen's University, I volunteer at the observatory, spend some time doing astrophotography, and participate in stargazing events as the "Astronomer of the Night." I love telling stories about the night sky while helping people explore the universe through the telescope.
I also had the amazing opportunity to be an Astronomer-in-Residence at Killarney Park, in collaboration with York University. There, I led public talks and operated telescopes, making sure campers had nights full of stars and unforgettable memories. You can check
out my blog here
(https://www.yorku.ca/science/observatory/blog/parisa-nozari/).
Right now, I'm a full-time Ph.D. student at Queen's University, but nothing keeps me from sharing my passion for astronomy. I'm all about making astronomy simple and accessible for everyone. That's why I started a YouTube channel where I post videos about astronomy and my Ph.D. journey.
I hope to inspire women of color and minorities to feel welcome in STEM and give them a real look at what this journey is like. When I'm not buried in my research, I love getting involved in STEM outreach, and you'll often find me running, hiking, Latin dancing, or playing the ukulele and learning FRENCH!
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Peculiar Dust Emission within the Orion Molecular Cloud
Our study of the Orion Molecular Cloud (OMC) 2/3 revealed unexpected behavior in dust emission at longer wavelengths, particularly at 3.3 mm, where we observed more emission than
predicted by shorter wavelength data.
This suggests that the dust properties in this region may differ from the standard models. To explore this, we analyzed six protostellar cores using observations from NOEMA and ALMA, covering wavelengths from 1.6 mm to 3.6 mm. We found that the dust emission profiles were flatter than typical values, indicating variability that could be influenced by
multiple factors.
These findings challenge existing assumptions about dust behavior in molecular clouds and have important implications for understanding dust grain evolution and star formation process.
Find the below poster about this study
BOOK A STAR PARTY
Join me for a magical night under the stars! I’ll bring a professional telescope and guide you through the wonders of the night sky, whether it’s for a wedding, birthday, educational event, or just a special evening you won’t forget.
You’ll have the chance to see incredible sights like Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, the Moon, and even some nebulae or double stars.
Each star party is its own unique experience, shaped by the night’s conditions. While I can’t guarantee perfect weather, I can promise an unforgettable adventure through the cosmos that will leave you and your guests in awe.
Let’s make some stellar memories together!
PRIVATE EVENTS
UP TO 15 PEOPLE / PRIVATE SCHOOLS
50 PER HOUR
PRIVATE EVENTS
UP TO 200 PEOPLE / PRIVATE SCHOOLS
100 PER HOUR
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS UP TO 200 PEOPLE
25 PER HOUR
SPEAKING
I am available for speaking engagements on a variety of topics
Astronomy science experiments and demos (Great for K-12)
Space science and exploration (Great for K-12)
Solar system (The formation of planets)
Navigating STEM Careers and Degrees
The Importance of Women in STEM
THIS CAN BE TAILORED TO VARIOUS ADIUENCE DEMOGRAPHICS AND PREFERENCES
