Congratulations to Dr. Bartosz “Bart” Fornal and his project team on a successful grant proposal to the National Science Foundation! An expert in theoretical particle physics, Dr. Fornal loves to spark curiosity about how the world works with students of all ages and interests, and his research project, “Searching for the Dark Side of the Universe with Gravitational Waves,” is bound to do just that. We’re excited about the research opportunities this project will create for our math and science majors at Barry, and the word about Dr. Fornal’s research is already spreading quickly through our STEM departments!
According to the proposal, “this research project encapsulates the essence of our quest to discover the truth about the Universe.” Gravitational waves were only recently detected; however, several fundamental questions remain unanswered, and the results of this project could provide a breakthrough in how we understand the structure of the Universe. In addition to the project’s scientific impact, students involved in the research — many from groups that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines — will be paid for their time, receive training in research, and acquire skills that can prepare them for advanced-degree programs in science, increase their competitiveness in the job market, and improve their admission rate into doctoral programs. Barry University is committed to supporting this project; we’re very proud to have Dr. Fornal on our team, and we can’t wait to see how this research will enrich our students’ lives!