2017 Science Core Team Members participating in our study of black holes and gravitational waves in preparation for a visit by astrophysicist Janna Levin.

The ‘core team’ experience is a unique journey, taking a deep dive together in a community of dedicated and science-minded students in a shared inquiry around a research theme. Our visiting scientist sets the agenda for us, and we begin with the fundamentals and work gradually into the more advanced dimensions of the work by engaging in a series of weekly seminars. With a carefully constructed background knowledge aligned with the visiting scientist’s research, there are two culminating events in the spring of the academic year. First, we have the visit from our researcher – a lecture to the wider community and some personal conversations give us a chance to engage very directly around the topics we have studied in depth all year. Then, at the end of the year, we traditionally take a trip to a lab, field research station, or other scientific installation to see how and where the work is done to create the scientific insights and publications we have been studying. It is a memorable and meaningful experience for all of us.