Lighting the Path to Science—and Protecting the Observatory That Makes lt Possible
The Stocker AstroScience Center is a fully equipped observatory for teaching, research, and outreach. Its 24-inch Ritchey-Chretien telescope is the only research-grade telescope in South Florida.
Photo courtesy of the SPS chapter at Florida International University.
On the morning of February 11, 2025, Florida International University (FIU) came alive with the buzz of excitement as buses full of elementary, middle, and high school students arrived for FIU STEAM Day. The air was filled with chatter, curiosity, and the contagious energy of discovery. As members of FIU’s SPS chapter, we had been preparing for weeks. Our goal wasn’t just to showcase cool experiments; we wanted to ignite a spark in the next generation of scientists.
We built more than just demonstrations. We built connections. Whether we were explaining electromagnetism to a third grader or helping a high school student understand kinetic energy, we saw ourselves in their eyes—students who once had questions and found answers because someone took the time to show them the beauty of science. Through hands-on activities with magnets, circuits, and energy transfer, we made physics feel real, tangible, and within reach.
Inspiration was at the heart of it all. No student was too young to be captivated, and no question was too simple to deserve attention. The moments we shared—when a child’s face lit up in realization or when a student confidently explained what they had just learned—reminded us why outreach like STEAM Day is so important. We weren’t just presenting facts; we were presenting science as something vibrant, inclusive, and life-changing.
SPS members ready for STEAM Day to begin.
Photo courtesy of the SPS chapter at Florida International University.
Our team’s strength came from collaboration. Each member brought unique skills. Some were natural educators, others built engaging demos. But it was our shared commitment that made the event successful. Success wasn’t measured by awards or recognition. It was seen in awe, in curiosity, and in the growing confidence of students who engaged with science in a new way.
That same commitment to science education and outreach is now being threatened.
As the presidents of the physics and astronomy clubs, we have been speaking out against the planned construction of a new aquatic center on campus, directly next to the Stocker AstroScience Center. This observatory isn’t just another campus building—it’s a cornerstone of STEM education and research at FIU. Every semester, over 500 students gain hands-on experience at the observatory, and it plays a vital role in both undergraduate and graduate research, as well as community programs like public telescope nights.
If the aquatic center is built in its currently proposed location, the observatory will no longer be usable. The lights from the pool would blind the telescope, chlorine vapors would damage optical surfaces, and event noise would interfere with observations. Despite these concerns and a unanimous faculty senate vote of opposition, the FIU Board of Trustees continues to push forward with the plan. Their reasoning? Other universities have centrally located pools that “look cool.”
This decision prioritizes aesthetics over education, research, and student opportunity.
The Stocker AstroScience Center is a unique and irreplaceable facility. Professor James Webb, who has led the observatory for more than a decade, helped raise the funds and design the building. Under his leadership, the center has supported published research, student coauthors, and countless moments of discovery. Many young students who visit during outreach events like STEAM Day have their first experience with astronomy here—experiences that shape their futures and lead them into STEM fields.
We’re also grieving the recent passing of Professor Carl Stocker, for whom the observatory is named. He was a dedicated supporter of science and education, and the center stands as a powerful part of his legacy. To threaten that legacy for the sake of convenience is not just shortsighted, it’s deeply disrespectful.
The same students we met on STEAM Day—the ones who asked big questions, who saw science in action for the first time—deserve the chance to explore the universe through this telescope. Taking that away undermines everything we’re working toward as students, researchers, and educators.
We’re asking for support not just from our university, but from people everywhere who believe in science and education. Sign the petition. Share this story. Help us protect a space that sparks curiosity, fuels discovery, and empowers future generations.
Let’s not extinguish the light that helps students see the stars and believe they can reach them.
