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The Astrophysicist DR. MICHELLE LARSON Since January 2013, when Alaska native Dr. Michelle Larson became the first female president of the 85-year-old Adler Planetarium, she has endeavored to make it a more accessible place of scientific inquiry. She established "Hack Days" for teenagers and girls and launched a program that takes the Adler's telescopes to public parks and libraries. The people are responding: This year saw the venue's strongest January attendance in six years. MA ING MY MAR : "I care very much about science for everyone. I will be very proud if, during my tenure, the Adler becomes your explore-the-universe stop." TAC LING A COMMON MISCONCEPTION: "One of the questions I get the most from students is, 'Why did you become a scientist—don't you just repeat stuff that we already know the answers to?' The Adler helps people recognize that's not at all what being a scientist is, that we are [discovering] unknown things." GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: "There are a lot of institutions in our lives where we get answers to questions. I don't think we need museums in this world to do more of that. We need museums to be that place that helps you feel comfortable on that undefined landscape that is true exploration. I feel very satisfied when I see people taking that journey." THE GENDER GAP: "Women are equally great at math, science, and engineering, but we are also good, as a gender, at communicating and building teams and finding different ways to look at a problem." FAVORITE THING TO SEE IN THE CHICAGO S Y: "The sun. If you look at it through a filtered telescope, you can see phenomenal things: sunspots, erupting flares, beautiful arches." A STRONG LEADER IS: "The one who enables others to do their very best." 112 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM