Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

As more and more windows to the universe open, we will inevitably encounter more questions than answers.

CIERA is excited to take the lead into an ever-expanding frontier: adapting exciting new technologies, discovering new corners of the cosmos, and training future generations and leaders in STEM. CIERA’s focus on exploration, people, and impact will continue to drive its mission to push the boundaries of astrophysics, empower the next generation of scientists, and inspire the public through groundbreaking discoveries and educational outreach.

Northwestern’s presence in astronomy is the product of a legacy of resilience and curiosity, which has been present since the department first began.

Researchers at CIERA explore boundaries and connections to spark new innovation – in research as well as education and outreach.

They will lead the way in developing new technologies and techniques to chart new knowledge of the universe. To aid in this endeavor CIERA has access to a modern high-performance computing center at Northwestern, utilizes national supercomputing facilities, and has dedicated access to the most advanced telescopes in the world. In December 2024, led by CIERA, Northwestern University also became a founding member of the International Consortium of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Organization. The GMT, launching in the 2030s, will be the world’s most powerful optical telescope, producing images 10 times clearer than the Hubble Space Telescope.

This rendering of the GMT Observatory shows the exterior telescope at nighttime with support site buildings in the foreground. 

Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Researchers from around the world gathered to attend the MODEST-23 star clusters conference, organized by CIERA, enjoy a bonfire banquet at Northwestern’s Lakefill in 2023.
  2. Postdocs and graduate students from around the world gather at CIERA in 2023 to attend the 4th annual Code/Astro workshop.
  3. CIERA hosts a vigorous visiting researchers program bringing experts to Northwestern to give scientific seminars, engage with CIERA researchers, and collaborate.
  4. Students in the 2024 REACH summer high school program completing a hands-on lesson.

Credit: CIERA

CIERA is driven by and for people.

Training and empowering the next generation of scientists and leaders is a core aspect of CIERA’s mission. Its vibrant community of faculty, postdocs, and students is growing, with even more talented individuals set to join CIERA over the next decade. Interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers, data scientists, AI experts, and more across and beyond Northwestern will illuminate new paths and spur breakthrough discoveries. CIERA’s track record of building new partnerships, from spearheading the creation of major new research hubs such as the NSF-Simons Foundation AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI Institute), to leading new international astronomy programs like the La Silla Schmidt Southern Survey, to partnering with organizations such as Northwestern’s Baxter Center for Science Education, will bring together the innovative teams needed to push the boundaries of what is possible and train tomorrow’s leaders.

CIERA is committed to making an impact – on science and on society.

CIERA STEM education programs will open the door for students of all backgrounds to pursue STEM careers. A dedication to public outreach connects thousands with CIERA’s research and cultivates the public’s enthusiasm for astronomy. As the CIERA students and postdocs move on to impactful roles in academia, industry, and beyond, they multiply CIERA’s impact as they carry forward the knowledge, skills, and collaborative spirit fostered here. The GMTO International Consortium, SkAI Institute, and many other partnerships will further enhance CIERA’s impact, as Northwestern researchers develop and apply AI tools, build new technology, and develop innovative approaches to research and education.

Looking ahead, the CIERA community is eager to continue its journey of exploration, driven by the incredible people who make up its community, and the profound impact they strive to achieve.

But as of the present moment, whether as a witness or participant, it is a thrilling time to be involved in this field in whatever capacity that might be. No telescopes or grand mirrors are needed to see that the cosmos is wide open to us, for as long as we need to uncover it.

“I have no doubt that we can solve the mystery of the universe eventually,” said a well-loved director of Dearborn, Oliver J. Lee, in 1931, “but there are no deadlines in astronomy.”

Dearborn’s 8th director O.J Lee sits at the base of the century-old telescope.
Credit: NU Archives