Join the OVLC for our first ALL ABOUT OJAI of 2024, featuring Dr. Jon Swift
Ojai Valley School Lower Campus, Greenberg Center
723 El Paseo Road, Ojai, CA 93023
Friday, March 8 | 6—8pm
The dark skies afforded by the Ojai Valley beg us to think big, reconsider our perspectives, and harness the creativity of the Universe. This is partly what draws us to this wonderful and unique place. With the help of the Thacher Observatory, we have been finding ways to contribute meaningfully to the evolving understanding of our mysterious cosmos. As with many things in Ojai, the history of events leading to the creation of the Thacher Observatory is rich and surprising. This tradition is continued today with astrophysical research in several different fields, one of which is the birth, evolution, and fate of the Universe—cosmology. This evening we invite you to expand your mind and contemplate the biggest picture imaginable as we discuss modern cosmology, its outstanding issues, and what we are doing here in Ojai to help this field move forward.
Jon Swift was born in New York but grew up surfing and playing sports in North County San Diego. His first loves are poetry and music. However, Jon’s fascination with the natural world led him into the fields of astronomy and astrophysics, where he has published research in several areas of specialization, including cosmology, star formation, exoplanets, and astronomical instrumentation. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA with a BS in physics, and earned an MA and a PhD in astronomy & astrophysics from UC Berkeley. At the Thacher School, Jon redesigned and renovated the campus observatory which now includes a fully automated, research-grade telescope. In addition to directing the observatory and maintaining a vibrant astronomy program where students are able to participate in relevant research, Jon teaches astronomy, physics, mathematics, and data science. Outside the classroom, Jon has developed the Thacher surfing program, which he coaches in the fall. Jon lives on the Thacher campus with his wife Gloria, daughter Annika, and son Ansel.
