UOIT astrophysicist stars at Brazil science conference

For years Dr. Rupinder Brar has wowed Physics and Astronomy students as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). In 2010, from a field of nearly 700 entrants, Dr. Brar won TVO’s Big Ideas Best Lecturer competition. Now he is getting a chance to impress young minds on the international stage.

Dr. Brar was the guest of honour and keynote speaker at the Semana de Química (Chemistry Week) conference from August 17 to 21 at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (University of Campinas), in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The theme of the conference was light, and though he is not a chemist, his task was to provide Brazilian university students with a deeper understanding of an area of science that is completely dependent on light: astronomy.

“This event was a tremendous opportunity for me to exchange ideas and engage with the brightest young minds in a country that is sure to play an increasingly important role on the international science stage” said Dr. Brar. “The hospitality, hard work, enthusiasm and smarts shown by the conference organizers, volunteers and participants blew me away and helped make my trip very rewarding!”

Dr. Brar gave the keynote lecture entitled Light: The Cosmic Messenger. He also participated in the closing event by holding a question-and-answer session under the stars at the Museum of Exploratory Science on the university campus.

Open to chemistry students from across Brazil, Chemistry Week at the University of Campinas features short courses, lectures and workshops, and is the university’s largest annual academic event,

“Everyone truly enjoyed Dr. Brar’s presence and lectures,” said conference co-organizer Caroline Dias Barreira. “He is an amazing person and an amazing teacher. He helped make Chemistry Week the best possible learning experience for all the attendees.”