North Shore families can hear a free talk on the James Webb Space Telescope at New Trier High School's Winnetka campus on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Michael Cushing, a professor in the University of Toledo's Department of Physics and Astronomy, will present "The James Webb Space Telescope: A New Window Into Our Origin Story" at 7 p.m. in the McGee Theatre at 385 Winnetka Ave., according to New Trier Township High School District 203. The event is free. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at the district's website to help ensure adequate seating.
The lecture is part of the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) Shapley Lecture program, which sends professional astronomers to schools and communities across the country to share developments in astronomical research. The program dates to 1958 and was relaunched in 2024–2025 after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to UToledo News. Cushing was one of 21 astronomers nationwide selected for the 2026 cohort.
In a March UToledo News profile, Cushing said, "I really enjoy the challenge of explaining complex scientific ideas to all age groups, from children as young as four or five years old all the way up to adults."
Cushing plans to explain how and why the telescope was designed and built, and highlight some of its most significant discoveries. Launched on Dec. 25, 2021, the Webb telescope has challenged scientists' understanding of how the first galaxies formed roughly 13 billion years ago and examined the atmospheres of planets outside the solar system in the search for signs of life, according to the district.
Beyond the evening presentation, Cushing will spend the school day visiting New Trier science classes to lead demonstrations, discuss career pathways and share insights from his research. He will also meet with members of New Trier's Physics Club for dinner before the public lecture.
Cushing directs the Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory at the University of Toledo and has authored or co-authored more than 297 scientific papers. His research focuses on low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, and he has spent more than three decades sharing science with audiences of all ages through planetarium shows, school visits and community talks, according to UToledo News.
