In this episode I talk to KeShawn Ivory, a 2nd year PhD student in astrophysics at Vanderbilt University and a Fisk-Vanderbilt Master's-to-PhD Bridge scholar originally from Garland, TX. KeShawn's personal and professional choices are guided by his firm belief that research is meaningless if it can't be accessed by all who wish to participate, and shared with all who wish to learn. When he isn't working on galaxy mergers, KeShawn loves to write (mostly prose, sometimes music) and sing.

Find KeShawn on Twitter @keshawnrants
Reach out to KeShawn at keshawn.ivory@vanderbilt.edu

Reach out to AstronomerAnd:
Twitter: @astronomerand
Instagram: @astronomerandpod
Email: astronomerand@gmail.com

Show Notes:
One of KeShawn’s Medium pieces: https://kekeivory.medium.com/post-grad-mythos-and-inevitable-disenchantment-e8330e99d5e2
Rice Acapella Group: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6SWt8NggN8nn2Y2uUYoCQA?si=5rqxMKUBSga_FDSb0VTTnw&utm_source=copy-link

Website for other organizations discussed:
Vanderbilt Bridge Program: https://www.fisk-vanderbilt-bridge.org
Vanderbilt Astronomy: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/physics-astronomy/
Fisk Astronomy: https://www.fisk.edu/academics/nsm/academic-department-of-life-and-physical-sciences/physics/
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS): https://www.sdss.org
Python Module -- emcee: https://emcee.readthedocs.io/en/stable/

Cover Art: iritmogilevsky.com, Instagram: irit.mog
Theme Tune: Omar Chakor - https://www.fiverr.com/ch6k0r

Land Acknowledgement:
This episode was recorded in Nashville and we recognize that this land belonged to the Indigenous People before it came to be known as the state of Tennessee, or as the United States of America. We recognize that that Indigenous Peoples were the first residents of what we now know as the State of Tennessee and that Nashville is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region including the Shawnee, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Yuchi tribal nations. Our ability to live and work in this state is the result of direct coercion, forced dispossession, and deliberate colonization. To ignore that is to perpetuate injustice to populations of people that continue to seek redistribution of land that was once theirs. We provide this land acknowledgement in recognition and respect of the indigenous people to whom this land truly belongs. We recognize that acknowledgment by itself is a small gesture, and that it becomes meaningful when coupled with authentic relationship and informed action.

Inclusivity Statement:
I wish for this podcast to be a safe space for those of every gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, race, religious group and age group. I am always trying to learn and improve on my unconscious bias. Any suggestions for improvement will be gratefully received at astronomerand@gmail.com.