About

My passion for astronomy led me to join Amateur Astronomers Incorporated (AAI), where I've taken on multiple roles to contribute to the club's mission and growth. I became a Qualified Observer, meaning I am certified to operate a 24" telescope, managing its operation and maintenance to ensure accurate observations and data collection. My love for teaching others inspired me to educate the public and AAI members for tours of the telescope and the astronomical objects that it observes.

In addition to my work with the telescope, I am the Communications Intern. I manage AAI’s Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube pages to engage with the community and promote the club’s activities, such as the weekly Friday night presentations. I also serve as the Chair of the Student Liaison Committee and Executive Committee Member, representing student members and encouraging them to become involved with AAI's events. As part of the Astronomy Day planning board, I help organize one of the club’s most significant annual events, bringing astronomy enthusiasts across the region.

Beyond these roles, I’ve given educational presentations to AAI members and the public on topics such as "Are We Alone?" about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and "A Glimpse Into The Standard Model Of Particle Physics." These talks have been well-received and have sparked meaningful discussions among attendees. I’ve also volunteered at events like Four Centuries in a Weekend at Sperry Observatory, where I provided public tours of the observatory and telescopes.

As a freshman, my passion for history motivated me to search for a history club at my school that I could get involved with, but there was nothing! I made sure to double-check with my history teacher, who confirmed the absence of a history club. With the idea already in mind, I asked my teacher if she wanted to help me form one, and she agreed. The club began with around 15 members, mostly friends of mine and a few others, at the end of my freshman year. The following year after the first meeting, the club grew to 115+ members! 

Since then, the History Club has hosted monthly meetings, guest speaker events, fundraisers, and volunteer events. I organized guest speakers, including Professor Gary Rendsburg from Rutgers University, who discussed the decipherment of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics; Malcolm Nettingham, whose father was a Tuskegee Airman and was recently honored with the renaming of a local middle school; and Charles Oppenheimer, the grandson of the "Father of the Atomic Bomb," J. Robert Oppenheimer.

In partnership with the local historical society, I organized a successful fundraiser which raised over $1,000 for the historical society. I also led and participated in multiple volunteer events, including tours of a local historical landmark associated with the American Revolutionary War.

Under my leadership, the SPFHS History Club applied for and became an official chapter of the National History Club. Our chapter's exceptional work in programming events and organizing volunteer opportunities was recognized when our club was named one of six National History Club Chapters out of over 500 clubs. This achievement was celebrated with an engraved plaque from the National History Club and a letter of recognition from Congressman Tom Kean Jr., the representative of NJ's 7th district!

"The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know." Albert Einstein’s words perfectly capture the essence of my journey. Every discovery leads to even more questions, and that’s what makes learning so exciting! This is the story of how my interests have evolved from astronomy to quantum physics, how my knowledge has expanded, and how my curiosity continues to grow.

My fascination with science began in fifth grade, thanks to a project in my school’s gifted and talented program. We were tasked with designing a product for a hypothetical mission to Mars. Armed with resources like National Geographic magazines, the NASA website, and YouTube videos about Mars’s harsh environment, I got to work. My idea? A specialized entrance for a Mars habitat that would remove dust from an astronaut’s suit and purify the air before they entered—a concept I now realize was basically an advanced airlock!

This project was just the beginning, and my curiosity about space only grew throughout middle school. I rapidly went through documentaries on space telescopes, rockets, the Big Bang, and pretty much anything related to astrophysics. I even started following NASA and private space company rocket launches like they were major sporting events, often staying up late at night or waking up in the early morning just to watch the liftoff.

By my freshman year of high school, my passion for astronomy had motivated me to save up for my first professional telescope, a Celestron NexStar 8se. Eager to capture the best possible photos of celestial objects, I sought out an astronomy club where I could connect with experienced astrophotographers. That’s how I found Amateur Astronomers Inc. Through AAI, my skills have grown tremendously. I’ve captured images of some fantastic celestial objects, like the Andromeda Galaxy, Saturn, the Sun, Jupiter, the Moon, and many more. I also became certified to operate and educate the public about AAI's 24" telescope!

These experiences fueled my curiosity even further. I wanted to understand not just what these objects look like but how they formed, what they’re made of, and what other mysteries the universe might hold. I reached out to university professors, watched countless hours of YouTube videos, and read research publications, all in pursuit of answers. Some questions were answered, but many more emerged, particularly about the fundamental particles and forces that make up the universe on the smallest scales.

Around this time, I was also introduced to quantum physics in my chemistry class, where I learned about light's wave-particle duality, electron spin, and radioactive decay. This was a whole new frontier, one that explained the universe at its most fundamental level. My fascination quickly turned into a deep interest in quantum physics, especially after competing in the CERN BL4S competition. To help my team create our project proposal for the competition, I dove into complex quantum mechanics and particle physics topics.

Since then, I’ve continued to explore the world of quantum mechanics, studying acclaimed books like Richard Feynman’s "The Feynman Lectures on Physics," David Griffiths’s "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics," and Griffith's "Introduction to Elementary Particles." These texts have helped me deepen my understanding of a field where particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously and where the nature of reality is still being unraveled. The weirder the science is, the more fun it is!

As I look to the future, I’m excited to pursue higher education in astronomy and quantum physics. I hope to contribute to these fields by exploring the most profound questions about the universe’s origins and the fundamental forces that govern it. The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is left to discover, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me!

I am currently an Intern for the Oppenheimer Project, a nonprofit organization founded by the grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer to promote nuclear energy and disarmament. With the Oppenheimer Project, I collaborate with relatives of J. Robert Oppenheimer and others to advance his goals of nuclear energy development and weapon disarmament. I assisted with organizing and scheduling events for NYC Climate Week and developed the ‘Nuclear Family’ concept, reaching out to relatives of Manhattan Project scientists. I also attended the Nuclear Symposium 2024: Uplifting Humanity at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, New York City. I then wrote an article reflecting on the event, which can be found on the Oppenheimer Project website. I have also helped to establish a social media presence for the organization, in addition to helping redesign the website for the Oppenheimer Energy initiative. 

My interest in Ancient Egyptian history began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stuck at home with plenty of time, I started watching just about every documentary I could find on Ancient Egypt. I became fascinated — not just with the famous pharaohs and pyramids — but with the mythology, culture, and especially the hieroglyphic writing system. After a short break, my curiosity returned even stronger. I began reading books about Egypt's history, diving deeper into topics like its dynasties, religion, and daily life. Eventually, I decided I wanted to go beyond just learning about Ancient Egypt — I wanted to interact with it directly. That’s when I started teaching myself how to read hieroglyphs, a process I’m still working on today. It’s slow and challenging, but incredibly rewarding to see an inscription and actually understand pieces of it for myself.

As an active member of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Food (HSSPF), I serve as the youngest Director on the Board. In this role, I organized a successful fundraiser with the SPFHS History Club, raising over $1,000 for the HSSPF. I also led and participated in multiple volunteer events, including tours of a local historical landmark associated with the American Revolutionary War. These experiences allowed me to share my love for history with my community and help people gain an appreciation for our shared heritage.

As an astronomer in New Jersey, light pollution is a prevalent issue within the astrophotography community.  After experiencing the impact of light pollution and commiserating with other astrophotographers about the same issues, I joined Dark-Sky International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating light pollution. As an Advocate for dark skies and a founding member of New Jersey's Dark-Sky International Chapter, I have attended multiple events and educated the public on light pollution and its adverse effects on astronomy and human health. Additionally, through an official town proclamation, I successfully lobbied the Mayor and Town Council of Scotch Plains to declare International Dark Sky Week Scotch Plains.