Prof. Sam Lawler

Still feeling quite underwater trying to keep track of the bazillion things I overcommitted myself to, trying to make sure I fully experience this amazing place I get to live in for a few weeks, and just reading little bits of news here and there.

This week includes: farm visit and interview for NZ Young Farmers, public talk in Christchurch, finish writing things I'm way behind on, catch up on zillions of admin things and meetings I've let slip... #ProfSamLectureTour

Mar 15 at 8:27pmWeb
Show threadProf. Sam LawlerMar 15
Christchurch public talk info here! https://events.humanitix.com/public-talk-the-beatrice-hill-tinsley-lecturer-astronomy-vs-the-billionaire-space-race-dr-samantha-lawler #ProfSamLectureTour
PUBLIC TALK- The Beatrice Hill Tinsley Lecturer-Astronomy vs. the Billionaire Space Race- Dr. Samantha Lawler

In February 2024, hundreds of pounds of potentially lethal debris from a SpaceX Crew Dragon trunk from a private astronaut mission fell on farmland near Regina,

Show threadProf. Sam LawlerMar 15
And this weekend will be the last (I think?) talk in the #ProfSamLectureTour in Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve, and it'll be a new moon! And I get to stay in a sheep shearer's hut! I'm really excited about that one. https://stayhappening.com/e/astronomy-vs-the-billionaire-space-race-E2ISYECY1D1
Astronomy vs. the Billionaire Space Race Tickets, The Godley Hotel Lake Tekapo, Timaru, 21 March 2026

Astronomy vs. the Billionaire Space Race at The Godley Hotel Lake Tekapo, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, Timaru on Sat, 21 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 am

Show threadProf. Sam LawlerMar 17
Oh hey look what was in the elevator at the university #ProfSamLectureTour
Show threadDaniel AJ SokolovMar 17
@sundogplanets And they let you enter the country with that smile? It is infectious.
Show threadObbie KingMar 17
@sundogplanets Can you flip-horizontal so we can read your poster more easily? Or is that how photos come out on the bottom of the world? ;)
Show thread@iveylineMar 17
@sundogplanets Enjoy!
Show threadbigblenMar 18
@sundogplanets thanks for the great (if depressing) talk at UC today. May the cloud gods bless you with clear skies in Takapō.
Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Mar 15

@sundogplanets I hope you're having a great time and that it gets more relaxing soon.

Taste some feijoa-flavored things for me!

Show threadProf. Sam LawlerMar 15
@ml I've had a lot! It's everywhere! The food I'm really going to miss when I leave NZ is kumara. SO tasty!
Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Mar 15
@sundogplanets I'll have to look it up. I haven't heard of it before.
Show threadbigblenMar 15

@ml @sundogplanets
Kumara is the reo Māori (and very similar in other polynesian languages) word for sweet potato

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato#Dispersal_history

Sweet potato - Wikipedia

Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Mar 15
@bigblen @sundogplanets Thanks. You must do it special there.
Show threadNinjacium StartlonicMar 18
@sundogplanets We'll be coming to this. See you tonight.