OREGON CITY — Clackamas Community College will host a STEM talk featuring visiting lecturer Dr. Puragra (Raja) Guha Thakurta, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, on April 21, 5-6 p.m., on the Oregon City campus. 

The free event is open to the public and focuses on career pathways in astronomy as well as ways the public can get involved in astronomy research on their own.  

Guha Thakurta is visiting Clackamas Community College as part of the American Astronomical Society’s Shapley Visiting Lectures Program, a nationally recognized initiative that brings leading astronomers to colleges and communities across the United States. Founded in 1958, the program supports scientists in sharing their research, inspiring curiosity about the universe, and building meaningful connections with local communities. 

This year's 21 astronomers are visiting destinations in 17 U.S. states. Each Shapley Lecturer will deliver an accessible presentation about their scientific work to public audiences at each destination. Each visit will also include two-three days of local engagement with schools and community organizations, creating opportunities for students and members of the public to meet a scientist. 

The American Astronomical Society, established in 1899, is an international organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of the universe through research, education and public outreach. The Shapley Visiting Lectures Program is supported through an endowed fund and reflects the organization’s commitment to inclusive and community-centered science engagement. 

Clackamas Community College is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., and the lecture will take place in the Pauling Center STEM Lab, room 165. Parking is free.  

For more information about the event, contact Chelsea Sharon at chelsea.sharon@clackamas.edu. For more information about STEM programs at CCC, visit www.clackamas.edu/stem-focus.  

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