Article by Astrophysicist Clara Sousa-Silva Featured in the New York Times
Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, was interviewed in the New York Times about an article she coauthored in the Science journal. The article explains how the detection of the molecule phosphine in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf may help astronomers in their search for life elsewhere in the Milky Way. Finding phosphine in places that cannot sustain life “will be a critical piece of the puzzle for figuring out what business phosphine has anywhere else, including in a potentially habitable environment,” Sousa-Silva told the New York Times.
Article by Astrophysicist Clara Sousa-Silva Featured in the New York Times
The Bard Physics Program is dedicated to helping students at all levels gain a better understanding of the universe and how it works.
Post Date: 10-14-2025
International Year of Quantum, Co-coordinated by Physicist Paul Cadden-Zimansky, Recognized at the Quantum World Congress
The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, managed in part by Associate Professor Paul Cadden-Zimansky, who is a global coordinator for the event, was recognized by the Quantum World Congress in Washington DC. “I think everyone who is putting in time and effort to make it a reality [can] share in this award and can take it as an encouragement to continue the mission of illuminating quantum science and technology for all," he said.International Year of Quantum, Co-coordinated by Physicist Paul Cadden-Zimansky, Recognized at the Quantum World Congress
“The International Year of Quantum would not have worked without the dozens of countries, hundreds of institutions, and thousands of people across the globe who believed in the mission of using the centennial of quantum mechanics as an occasion to improve public awareness of how central quantum is to our world,” said Cadden-Zimansky. “I think everyone who is putting in time and effort to make it a reality [can] share in this award and can take it as an encouragement to continue the mission of illuminating quantum science and technology for all.”
Post Date: 09-30-2025
Bard College Junior Lauren Mendoza ’26 Wins Goldwater Scholarship
Bard College is pleased to announce that Bard junior Lauren Mendoza ’26, a double major in physics and philosophy, has been announced as a recipient of the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. The scholarship supports college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.Bard College Junior Lauren Mendoza ’26 Wins Goldwater Scholarship
Mendoza currently conducts research in astrophysics with Professor Clara Sousa-Silva and had previously conducted research in nanofabrication with Professor Paul Cadden-Zimansky. After graduating from Bard, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in astronomy with a focus on the solar system and instrumentation, and aims to promote effective scientific communication between academics and the wider public.
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, established by Congress in 1986 in honor of Senator Barry Goldwater, aims to ensure that the U.S. is producing highly-qualified professionals in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Over its 30-year history, Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of undergraduates, many of whom have gone on to win other prestigious awards such as the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship that support the graduate school work of Goldwater scholars. Learn more at https://goldwaterscholarship.gov/
Post Date: 04-02-2025
More Alumni/ae News
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Bard Physicist Paul Cadden-Zimansky Asks “What is Quantum?” at QuantumFest 2025
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Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Interviewed About the Disappearance of Scientific Datasets
Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Interviewed About the Disappearance of Scientific Datasets
Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, was interviewed in Jacobin about how crucial scientific data required for her research had vanished from federal government servers. Sousa-Silva’s research studying the atmospheres of other planets relies on climate monitoring data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “This data disappearance coincides with the aggressive implementation of two intertwined initiatives from the Trump administration: the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump’s campaign to purge the federal government of anything ‘woke,’ including efforts to combat climate change,” writes Meagan Day for Jacobin. “The consequences for my research on Venus are pretty bad,” said Sousa-Silva. “I will be a worse astrophysicist. But that feels pretty minor considering the importance of being able to monitor how our climate is changing. To climate science, this is absolutely disastrous.”
Post Date: 03-04-2025
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Clara Sousa-Silva Gives Talk on the Search for Alien Life
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Paul Cadden-Zimansky Named Global Coordinator for UN’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
Paul Cadden-Zimansky Named Global Coordinator for UN’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
To mark the occasion of 100 years of quantum mechanics and to inspire its future applications, the United Nations (UN) has proclaimed 2025 to be the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). The UN resolution recommends the year to be “observed through activities at all levels aimed at increasing public awareness of the importance of quantum science and applications.” UNESCO and the IYQ Secretariat have named Associate Professor of Physics Paul Cadden-Zimansky one of four Global Coordinators for IYQ in recognition of his involvement in bringing this year of international awareness to fruition and coordinating aspects of some of the highest profile global events, including the IYQ 2025 Opening Ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris this February. Professor Cadden-Zimansky is described as “the physicist at Bard College who set the ball rolling that eventually resulted in the UN declaration” in the cover story of the January 1, 2025 issue of Physics Today. “In physics, everyone understands how central quantum mechanics has become, but that’s not the case for the public,” said Cadden-Zimansky. Professor Cadden-Zimansky is also scheduled to speak about quantum at the Consumer Electronics Convention, the world’s largest annual tech event, in Las Vegas on January 9.
Post Date: 01-07-2025
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Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Featured on PBS Show NOVA
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Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Appeared as a Panelist at United Nations Summit of the Future
Professor Clara Sousa-Silva Appeared as a Panelist at United Nations Summit of the Future
Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, addressed the United Nations on September 20 as a panelist at “Summit of the Future,” which brings world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. The panel discussion, “Activating Young Scientists for Trust in Science,” was hosted by the Scientific Advisory Board of the Secretary-General at the UN Headquarters and focused on exploring ways of advancing trust in science globally among young people. The discussion was moderated by Latif Nasser, cohost of RadioLab, and the panel consisted of Sousa-Silva, Tshilidzi Marwala, the UN under-secretary-general, Andrea Hinwood, chief scientist of the UN Environment Programme, and Mohammad Hosseini, research ethicist at Northwestern University, and member of Global Young Academy.
Post Date: 09-30-2024
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