May Monthly Meeting – Arthur Page Memorial Lecture: Bringing Astronomy and STEM to Marginalized Communities

Our meetings include brief business, a main presentation and items of astronomical news or activities from members.

The May Main Item will be the Arthur Page Memorial Lecture presented by Mike Simmons, IAU.  His talk is titled Bringing Astronomy and STEM to Marginalized Communities.  A synopsis of teh presentation and short biography of the presenter are below.

The May 2026 meeting is planned to be a face-to-face meeting; attendees can also join in online via Zoom. Details emailed to members. Guests/visitors can contact us for Zoom details at .
Visitors are welcome to join our face-to-face or online meetings.

Presentation Synopsis
Why do we do look into the sky when there are problems to solve on Earth? Mike Simmons
will show us how astronomy is used around the world to introduce STEM education in
developing countries, provide inspiration and encouragement for students who don’t see a
path into science, provide mental health benefits in countries in conflict, and more. After 50
years working with astronomy groups worldwide, Mike’s latest initiative, Astronomy for
Equity, focuses on programs to support this essential work for marginalized
communities through innovative new programs.

Short biography of the presenter
Mike Simmons, a retired UCLA biomedical researcher, now focuses on global astronomy
outreach and education. Living in the Santa Monica Mountains with his wife, he is also a
proud grandfather. An amateur astronomer for 50 years, he began outreach in the 1970s
with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and Griffith Observatory and founded the Mount
Wilson Observatory Association. Since 2020, he has worked with the Blue Marble Space
Institute of Science, leading Astronomy for Equity to expand access to underserved
communities. Simmons serves with Dark Sky International, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and the African
Astronomical Society, and is a writer, photographer, and frequent international speaker.