Lunch and Learn: "Wanda Hears the Stars" by Amy S. Hansen and Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced

Co-presented with the Prince George's County Office of Human Rights and Joe's Movement Emporium

This summer, grab your favorite lunch at noon and tune in to virtual conversations with the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System on topics from repairing the effects of racial injustice to fighting for equitable access to recovering from exile and loss. Let’s learn together!

Lunch and Learn returns with special guests Amy S. Hansen and Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced in conversation with the Prince George's County Office of Human Rights, Joe's Movement Emporium, and the Prince George's County Memorial Library System discussing their new book, "Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe."

Registration not required. Click on the YouTube video linked below to stream the program live or watch the recording later.

About the Book:

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to learn everything she could about the stars. But in college she started losing her sight. How could she study what she couldn’t see?

Wanda found a way. She learned to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds. Listening to those chimes and drumbeats, she made new discoveries about the universe.

About the authors: 

Amy S. Hansen is an an award-winning author of more than thirty-five books, most of them about science. She and Wanda met when Wanda first arrived at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Amy was astounded when she tried listening to Wanda’s data. The two friends decided to write a book together to inspire all young readers to find a path to success. Amy lives with her family in Maryland. www.amyshansen.com

Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced is a blind astrophysicist who studies the stars by turning data into sound. She is a leading advocate of multisensorial data, which increases access to information, and has spoken before the UN and given TED talks about the need for more inclusive science. Today, Wanda is a professor at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Puerto Rico.