Adler Staff Star: Meet Adriana!

Editor’s Note: Updated in May 2023 to reflect more current and updated information.

Adriana G.

Former Astronomy Educator

What do you like the most about working at the Adler?

My favorite part about working at the Adler is shifting people’s expectations about what science and museums are supposed to be like. We want to welcome everyone to learn by DOING science. So yes – touch the telescope! Interrupt us with your questions! Make a mess! Give us a different answer than we expect, and let’s experiment to test it out! My job is so much more exciting because of how playful and collaborative this learning environment is.

What is your favorite Adler memory?

I joined the Adler’s Galaxy Ride program this summer in Carbondale, Illinois for the total solar eclipse. Watching totality with hundreds of people from all over the state and country gathered, and hearing everyone in complete awe, was just indescribably awesome.

What do you like to do outside of the Adler?

Exploring different neighborhoods in Chicago on foot is my favorite thing to do…especially if that long walk ends with good food.

What is the most mind-boggling fact about space you know?

Until very recently with the detection of gravitational waves, almost everything we knew about the universe was discovered by studying different properties of the light our telescopes saw. The quantity of information we can extract from just light–from chemical composition and temperature of objects to distance, speed, and age–is incredible.

Name one fun fact about yourself!

I’ve made almost every staff member here groan in response to one of my bad puns at least once. It’s pretty punbearable.