Wanda Díaz-Merced

UBC Preservice Science Teacher Education

31 Wanda Díaz-Merced

Dr. Wanda Díaz-Merced

Wanda Diaz-Merced: Astronomer and Advocate - San Diego Squared

Time period:

Early 2000s to current

Subject:

Astronomy and Physics

Biography:

Wanda Díaz-Merced was born and grew up in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. They experienced sight loss first in high school and lost her sight during her time at the University of Puerto Rico from a condition called diabetic retinopathy, or the damage of ones eyes due to excessive sugar in their bloodstream.

Through a classmate, Díaz-Merced got involved in the Radio Jove, a participatory NASA project after listening to audible frequencies of a solar flare. After being selected for a summer internship at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the United States, she met and worked with Robert Candey, an astrophysicist. Together they developed a programme which converts astronomical data into sound. This pioneered her research in sonification of astrophysical data. Her research found astronomers were able to better detect data of the presence of a black hole with sonification in comparison to solely visual data.

Upon completing their doctorate, Wanda has participated in conferences and TED talks to advocate for science accessibility. She also worked at observatories and research institutes in South Africa, Japan and the US.

Summary of their contributions:

Improved astronomical data analysis by introducing sonification into interpreting data of star explosions.
Found an extremely high neutron star (magnetar) which forms after a supernova explosion. The amount of gamma rays this explosion emitted was greater than others had found.
Brought accessibility of sonification of astronomical research to the public by working with the Harvard Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics to develop a website for anyone to listen to the stars.

Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:

Science 10: Astronomical data and collection methods

Students are expected to learn about data and methods that support theories about the universe. Dr. Díaz-Merced is a great exploration of non-visual methodologies in understanding graphs and numerical data in space. Students tie in information from sonification to explain supernova explosions may be a key component of how solar systems are formed.

Earth Science 11: Star formation

The curriculum content involves learning about star formation, type and the life cycle. The supernova explosion of a star can produce a certain type of star called neutron star. Dr. Díaz-Merced explores the release of gamma rays which occur as a neutron star forms using sonification. Students can use Dr. Díaz-Merced’s findings to provide more information on star formation processes amongst varying stars.