Science Cafe: The Artistic Journey Into Physics
Date and Time
Feb 19, 2026 6:30 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Feb 19, 2026 6:30 pm
450K
Join us for the Busboys and Poets Science Cafe where we will have an array of scientists coming to share their research with the public with plenty of time for questions and discussions with the audience about their work and science more broadly!
Our next event is a talk from Dr. Ronald Gamble Jr., a theoretical astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center who studies supermassive black holes.
Too often we are told that art and physics are contradictory in their modes of inquiry and in thought process. The question is then asked, ‘Why not both?’. Einstein famously played the violin to spark insight. Katherine Johnson visualized complex math to guide spacecraft through space. The most powerful thinkers knew that creativity and logic are not rivals — they are partners. As we reach for the cosmos, the pursuit of diverse perspectives is becoming as critical as the pursuit of knowledge itself. From personal perspective on career pathways, to the introspection of Art and Physics, how do we explore the convergence of discovery, identity, and inclusion framing an artistically driven journey of science as both a challenge and an opportunity.
Speaker: Dr. Ronald S. Gamble, Jr.
Dr. Ronald S. Gamble, Jr. is an Afro-Latino Theoretical Astrophysicist, Science Communicator, and Artist who believes the universe tells its story through light, energy, and gravity. His research explores how supermassive black holes generate relativistic jets—streams of matter accelerated to near-light speeds—by merging Einstein’s relativity with modern computational simulations. As a Cosmic Origins Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland—College Park, he studies the extreme physics surrounding black holes while leading NASA’s Cosmic Pathfinders Program, engaging early-career scientists and students to pursue professional careers.His career spans academia, defense, and space science, and his contributions have earned him multiple NASA Agency Medals and recognition for STEM leadership and mentorship. Blending science and creativity, A proud 3-time graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Dr. Gamble unites creativity and discovery to illuminate the mathematics of the cosmos.
