A doctor of the universe and the first Black woman to graduate from Columbia’s astronomy Ph.D. program, Moiya McTier will discuss her path to becoming an astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator
Moiya McTier | Photo courtesy of Worldwide Speakers Group
Moiya McTier grew up in a log cabin in rural Pennsylvania without running water or TV, which means she had plenty of time to focus on her studies. Hard work and a lot of luck led McTier to an out-of-this-world career. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator will deliver this year’s John L. Hatfield ’67 Lecture and discuss how she got to where she is today—as well as her mission to help people understand the world around us better through science.
McTier’s lecture, which is presented by Lafayette College Libraries, is free and open to the public. A Q&A will follow the lecture.
“We’re honored to host Dr. McTier for this year’s Hatfield Lecture,” says Charlotte Nunes, dean of Lafayette College Libraries. “McTier’s unique approach to storytelling, blending science and memoir to tell the history of the galaxy, reflects Lafayette’s commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and exploration. We hope the campus community will join us in welcoming Dr. McTier, and that her message resonates at this inflection point in the history of the College and the nation.”
McTier attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where she was the first person in the school’s long history to double major in both astrophysics and folklore. After graduating, she moved to New York to earn her Ph.D. in astrophysics at Columbia University. There, she was named a National Science Foundation Research Fellow for her work studying planets outside of our solar system and the motion of stars around the galaxy. McTier officially became a doctor of the universe in 2021 as the first Black woman to graduate from Columbia’s astronomy Ph.D. program and started pursuing science communication full time.
In her career, McTier has given hundreds of talks around the world about science, helped design exhibits for the New York Hall of Science, and consulted with companies like Disney and PBS on scientific themes in their projects. She has reached thousands through her interviews on hit podcasts (Star Talk, Science Vs., and NPR’s Science Friday) and media channels (PBS, MSNBC, NY1). McTier can also be found co-hosting Fate & Fabled, a mythology show for PBS Digital studios, as well as hosting her own podcasts Exolore (about fictional worldbuilding through a science lens) and Pale Blue Pod (about astronomy for people who are afraid of the cosmos).
McTier’s debut book, THE MILKY WAY: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy, was released in 2022 to critical acclaim and was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s best books of 2022. The book is available to check out through Skillman Library.
The Hatfield Lecture series is sponsored by Lafayette College Libraries and endowed by a generous gift from alumnus John L. Hatfield ’67. The series brings a prominent author to campus for a public lecture and to visit with students. The Hatfield Lecture occurs once a year in the spring, usually in February or early March, and has become an annual highlight for the College. The libraries are proud to provide a home for the series, which has celebrated great writing, since 2008.
