Slides by: Parker Sherry
Hilding Neilson is a Mi’kmaw person and a researcher at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, who works on both astrophysics and the intersection of science, astronomy and Indigenous knowledge. His main research topics include modelling stellar atmospheres to create synthetic spectra that can be used for a variety of purposes, including exoplanet identification, understanding galaxy populations, and studying the chemistry of the stars themselves. He also studies pulsating Cepheid variable stars to find a link between stellar evolution and pulsations.
Hilding Neilson earned his BSc in Mathematics & Astrophysics from St. Mary’s University in 2003. He earned his PhD in 2009 from the University of Toronto under the supervision of Professor John B. Lester, which focused on studying the dynamics of Cepheid variables using theoretical and numerical simulations.
Hilding Neilson uses computational and theoretical tools to produce physical interpretation for observations of stars, exoplanets, and more. His work aims to prepare for the upcoming “big data” generation of astrophysics, where huge datasets will need quick and accurate ways to produce physically meaning output.
He is one of few indigenous faculty in physics and astronomy in Canada and aims to create space for indigenous knowledge in the field.
Website: http://hildingneilson.com/
Paper on incorporating indigenous knowledge in science: Indigenous knowledges and kinship as a model for our future in outer space