Jennifer Karr (Seeing Through the Dust: The Infrared Galaxy) is a senior PhD Student at the University of Toronto, studying sequential star formation using data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey.

When you look at the plane of the Milky Way, dark patches are readily apparent. These clouds of dust and gas block visible light, but infrared radiation can pass through more easily. Infrared astronomy is done with a variety of observing techniques, from ground based telescopes to satellites, and allows us to observe interstellar dust, the details of star formation and cooler stars.

Jennifer will discuss the nature of some of the objects which emit infrared radiation, the instruments which are used to observe them, and some of the current science being done at these wavelengths.