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Parish Porch: Voices of Ascension & Livingston Parish
Welcome to Parish Porch: Voices of Ascension & Livingston Parish!
Step onto the Parish Porch for real conversations with the people shaping Ascension and Livingston Parish. From business leaders to local legends, culture bearers to change-makers, we dive into the stories, challenges, and triumphs that define our community. Whether it’s from the backroads or the bayous, these conversations bring us closer, celebrating the heart and soul of the place we call home.
Parish Porch: Voices of Ascension & Livingston Parish
Episode 7: Livingston's Best-Kept Secret: Exploring LIGO (ft. Sophia Crook)
In this episode of Parish Porch, we sit down with Sophia Crook, Science Educator for LIGO Livingston, one of only two gravitational wave observatories in the United States. Sophia walks us through how LIGO detects ripples in space-time, what it’s like working at the forefront of astrophysics, and how the public can engage with the science right here in Livingston Parish.
We discuss:
- What gravitational waves actually are (and why they matter)
- LIGO's role in global scientific discovery
- How Louisiana ended up on the cutting edge of astrophysics
- Free public tours and field trip opportunities
- Encouraging kids and curious adults to ask big questions
Mentioned in this episode:
- Visit LIGO Livingston: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA
- Schedule a public tour: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA/page/Community-Tours
- Explore LIGO for educators: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA/page/Educators
🎧 Tune in to hear how our little corner of Louisiana is making a massive impact on science across the universe.
Interested in becoming a guest or sponsor? Reach out to us directly at parishporch@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!
