This is an introductory chat between Krishna Choudhary and Dr. Michael Blanton, the new director of Carnegie Observatories, before the substantive interview begins. The two bond over their shared Princeton history, with Blanton having earned his PhD there in Peyton Hall, and trade light banter about eating clubs and reunions.
310 words · auto-generated from the episode video
1:33>> [music]
1:47>> I'm joined today by Michael Blanton, the new director of the observatories here at Carnegie Science. Michael, thank you so much for joining us. >> Thanks for having me. >> Um you know, I wanted to start by taking a trip down memory lane because both you, me, and Lester were um part of the institution at Princeton University. You got your PhD there in Peyton Hall. Um I was in the neighboring Jadwin Hall, and I was always very jealous of all the astronomers for having such a beautiful building, whereas we got, you know, whatever monstrosity um Jadwin Hall was.
2:28So, one question from one Princeton alum to another Princeton alum, always um how often do you go back for reunions? >> I never go back. >> You never go back. >> a I was a PhD student there, and and so we existed in a slightly different culture than the undergraduates. >> Yeah. >> Uh you know, eating clubs for us. >> No, yeah, but Peyton Hall was pretty close to all the eating clubs, so that was I I I always You know. >> walk by them on my way to Hoagie Haven, but >> Oh, boy. Um I'm sure you didn't think very highly of the undergrads there, but we probably uh >> Actually, they were great. I um I TA'd while I was there, and and they were amazing undergraduates, so.
3:10>> Well, just as a pitch, you know, um there are graduate student alumni uh reunions here at the same time, so you should you should you should uh >> Yeah, they they they I did go to the reunions when I was a PhD student there. They were really great parties, but I haven't been back for any since then. >> Yeah, of course. Um well, so you got
AstronomyAstrophysicsOpen DataCosmology