Katie Bouman to speak at Purdue about the ‘Portrait of a Black Hole’

Katie Bouman. (Courtesy photo)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Honors College has announced that Katie Bouman will be coming to campus on March 3 for the third annual Aronson Family Science and Society Honors Lecture.

Bouman is a Rosenberg Scholar and assistant professor of computing and mathematical sciences and electrical engineering at the California Institute of Technology, and is originally from West Lafayette. She is most well-known for her previous work as a postdoctoral fellow with the Event Horizon Telescope, which published the first picture of a black hole in April 2019. 

“Dr. Bouman’s work is emblematic of the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that leads to thriving innovation and the approach to learning we offer in the Honors College,” said Rhonda Phillips, dean of the Honors College.  “We’re thrilled to host her visit to campus, and look forward to the insights she will bring to campus and the community.”

The keynote presentation, titled “Portrait of a Black Hole,” will take place at 6 p.m. March 3 in Honors Hall, located in the Honors College and Residences North building.  A reception preceding the keynote will take place at the same location at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but a ticket will be required for entry. Tickets can be acquired at the box office, which is in Stewart Center, or online.

The Aronson Family Science and Society Honors Lecture, hosted by the Honors College, is possible thanks to the support of the Aronson family. Previous speakers for the series have included Scott Kelly, a NASA astronaut, and Moira Gunn, a former NASA scientist, Purdue alumna, and host of the NPR program “Tech Nation.”

Writer: Logan Judy, ljudy@purdue.edu

Media contact: Joseph Paul, 765-494-9541, paul102@purdue.edu