Mauna Kea Skies: Origami with Dr. Lozi

Dr. Julien Lozi, a Senior Optical Scientist at Subaru Telescope/National Observatory of Japan, will be the featured presenter at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s next Mauna Kea Skies program on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

Lozi will explore how the Japanese art of paper folding plays a role with helping scientists find and study Earth-like planets in other parts of the universe in the presentation, entitled “How Origami Can Help Us Explore Other Worlds.”

Origami applications have been developed across a number of fields, including medicine, robotics, energy, automotive engineering, architecture, and astronomy and space exploration. During October’s Mauna Kea skies presentation, Lozi will journey through the applications of origami in science, from unfolding giant telescopes, solar panels, and new types of lenses, to even cheap propulsion systems.

Dr. Lozi was born in France in 1985, and was introduced to both origami and astronomy at the age of 10. While studying optics and lasers for his master’s degree in France, he began to see the parallels between origami and optics.  He started an origami club teaching fellow engineering students how to fold, while also organizing public exhibits and demonstrations.  A six-month internship at Subaru Telescope in 2008 first introduced him to Hawaiʻi, before he went back to France to study for his Ph.D in astronomy.

After earning his doctorate from Université Paris-Sud XI in 2012, Dr. Lozi worked in Silicon Valley for two years at the NASA Ames Research Center, an experience that also afforded him an opportunity to learn new origami techniques and meet talented origami artists in California.  In 2014, he returned to Hilo to accept his “dream job” at Subaru Telescope, where he is currently working on a first generation high-contrast imaging instrument dedicated to the direct observation and characterization of exoplanets.

‘Imiloa Planetarium Technician Emily Peavy will host the program, providing observational highlights of the current night sky over Hawai’i and pointing out prominent constellations and stars visible during this time of year.

Mauna Kea Skies is held every third Friday of the month.

Tickets, which can be purchased at the ‘Imiloa front desk, are $10 for non-members, $8 for individual, dual, kupuna, and family members, $6 for patron members, and free for silver, gold, and corporate members.