Academy Talk: Finding Home Among the Stars

Note: The program will be offered in person and online. Register in advance HERE. Unregistered seats are available on a first-come, first served basis.

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, in partnership with the Mead Library Foundation, invites you to a special program exploring how people across cultures and generations have looked to the stars for direction, meaning, and a sense of home. 

The evening will feature Travis Novitsky, an Anishinaabe photographer and night sky advocate from the Grand Portage Nation in northeast Minnesota, and Dr. Robert Mathieu, Professor of Astronomy at the UW–Madison. 

Through story, imagery, and science, Novitsky and Mathieu will explore how Indigenous star knowledge and modern astronomy have shaped human movement and belonging across time. Novitsky will share visual stories from decades of photographing the night skies over his homelands and reflect on our shared responsibility to protect dark skies. Mathieu will connect these traditions to contemporary astronomy and offer practical tips for stargazing, including how to begin observing the night sky and what tools can enhance the experience. 

Prior to the program, in-person attendees are invited to view a gallery of Travis Novitsky’s night-sky photography at the library. The evening offers a blend of storytelling, science, and practical insight that invites participants to reconnect with the stars that have guided people home for generations. The program will be offered in person and online. Register in advance HERE. Unregistered seats are available on a first-come, first served basis.