Astrophysics Biography
Having been passionate about astronomy, astrophysics and science since childhood, Laura-May attended many conferences in France and the UK for over a decade, before completing online astronomy and astrobiology courses with distinction through the University of Rochester and the University of Edinburgh. She then enrolled in the Paris Observatory (OBSPM),
first obtaining their university diploma (DU ECU), followed by the (DU SU) university diploma in astronomy and astrophysics obtained with highest honours in 2016, for which she produced a research memoir on Exoplanetary systems. Through this, she was able to do a summer training course at the French OHP observatory—home of the discovery of the first main-sequence exoplanet—which also honed her knowledge of astrophotography through the manipulation of large instruments and advanced software.
After graduating she consulted and wrote astronomy and astrophysics content for a large science app based in Spain. She moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue a career in science communication, founding the Inspired Science Women of Los Angeles group the following year to create a space for women to discuss science and share related events. In 2019 she was selected as one of the winners on honourable mention of the Joan and Arnold Seidel Science writing contest, and subsequently published by the Griffith Observatory’s publication. That same year she was hired by Urban Elective to teach a six-week introduction to astronomy course. She first appeared as guest astrophysics expert on the show Brother in 2018 and 2019, was the writer for astrophysics and climate change-related episodes for Generation Genius in 2020, and is now a permanent writer and host for the climate, environment and sustainability show on the One Step app, by publishers Ballard & Tighe. She was invited to give a talk for Caltech astronomy's Astronomy on Tap event in March 2021 before starting a short-format video channel focusing on astrophysics content on YouTube and TikTok under the name CelestialMachines and CelestialMachinesFR for the French version. She consulted on an atmospheric balloon launch in the Californian desert as part of a marketing campaign in spring 2021, to get a basketball to reach the stratosphere.
She also uses artwork to explore astrophysical and cosmological concepts, was invited to show her work at New Scientist Live in 2017 and participated in New York Creative Agency Yummy Colour’s 2020 Concept of the Year for which she produced a large painting inspired by spectroscopy; returning in 2021 with a work on atmospheric phenomena and astrometry. Her 3D Cosmic Entomology series uses mosaic, entomology and telescope images to explore theories like Supersymmetry or the Big Rip. It has been selected and featured by the Hubble Space Telescope as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations.
first obtaining their university diploma (DU ECU), followed by the (DU SU) university diploma in astronomy and astrophysics obtained with highest honours in 2016, for which she produced a research memoir on Exoplanetary systems. Through this, she was able to do a summer training course at the French OHP observatory—home of the discovery of the first main-sequence exoplanet—which also honed her knowledge of astrophotography through the manipulation of large instruments and advanced software.
After graduating she consulted and wrote astronomy and astrophysics content for a large science app based in Spain. She moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue a career in science communication, founding the Inspired Science Women of Los Angeles group the following year to create a space for women to discuss science and share related events. In 2019 she was selected as one of the winners on honourable mention of the Joan and Arnold Seidel Science writing contest, and subsequently published by the Griffith Observatory’s publication. That same year she was hired by Urban Elective to teach a six-week introduction to astronomy course. She first appeared as guest astrophysics expert on the show Brother in 2018 and 2019, was the writer for astrophysics and climate change-related episodes for Generation Genius in 2020, and is now a permanent writer and host for the climate, environment and sustainability show on the One Step app, by publishers Ballard & Tighe. She was invited to give a talk for Caltech astronomy's Astronomy on Tap event in March 2021 before starting a short-format video channel focusing on astrophysics content on YouTube and TikTok under the name CelestialMachines and CelestialMachinesFR for the French version. She consulted on an atmospheric balloon launch in the Californian desert as part of a marketing campaign in spring 2021, to get a basketball to reach the stratosphere.
She also uses artwork to explore astrophysical and cosmological concepts, was invited to show her work at New Scientist Live in 2017 and participated in New York Creative Agency Yummy Colour’s 2020 Concept of the Year for which she produced a large painting inspired by spectroscopy; returning in 2021 with a work on atmospheric phenomena and astrometry. Her 3D Cosmic Entomology series uses mosaic, entomology and telescope images to explore theories like Supersymmetry or the Big Rip. It has been selected and featured by the Hubble Space Telescope as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations.
Galactic Plasma and Astronomical Climate Change - Astronomy on Tap
Griffith Observer Article
Science Reel
Celestial Machines channel on TikTok and YouTube
One Step Trailer
Science and Art
