(Avon, CT — August 18, 2026) — Talcott Mountain Research Institute (TMRI) will welcome acclaimed scientist Keivan G. Stassun, Ph.D., to Talcott Mountain on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for its On the Shoulders of Giants (OSG) Lecture Series. A 2024 MacArthur Fellow and 2025 recipient of the National Medal of Science, Dr. Stassun will explore how neurodiversity and different ways of thinking can help drive scientific discovery and innovation.
Dr. Stassun is the Stevenson Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Vanderbilt University, where he also holds an appointment in computer science and serves as Founding Director of the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation in Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering. His research on stars and exoplanets has appeared in more than 600 peer-reviewed journal articles, with an emphasis on understanding the fundamental physical properties of stars and exoplanets.
“The idea behind TMRI’s OSG Lectures is to bring remarkable thinkers to Talcott Mountain and give our community the opportunity to encounter not only what they have discovered, but how they think,” stated Dr. Jay White, TMRI’s Founding Director. “We want the Lectures to open doors onto ideas that are changing science and sometimes changing how we think about science itself.”
In his OSG Lecture, “Wired for Wonder: Neurodiversity and the Future of Scientific Discovery,” Dr. Stassun will examine the power of cognitively diverse teams to drive innovation and scientific discovery. Drawing from real-world examples in astrophysics, he will share how different types and modes of thinking are driving groundbreaking discoveries in the search for habitable worlds and life in the Universe. He will also discuss a national model for neuro-inclusion in engineering in partnership with a growing network of leading universities across the country.
“Wonder is one of our most powerful engines of discovery. I hope attendees leave inspired by the idea that differences in how we think and perceive the world are not obstacles to innovation, but often the very source of it,” says Dr. Stassun. “For students especially, these OSG Lectures help demystify science by connecting great ideas to the people behind them. They show that discovery is not reserved for a select few; it begins with curiosity, and there is a place in that journey for everyone.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Stassun has contributed to major astronomy and space science initiatives. He is a member of the leadership teams for NASA’s Ultraviolet Explorer (UVEX) and Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) missions, previously served as a co-investigator for NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, and chairs the executive committee of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. He is also a nationally recognized mentor and advocate for training the next generation of American talent in STEM fields.
“Dr. Stassun’s work asks us to reconsider an assumption science has carried for too long: that the best way to solve difficult problems is to assemble people who think alike,” says Dr. White. “Some of our most interesting discoveries come precisely because we don’t.”
“Wired for Wonder: Neurodiversity and the Future of Scientific Discovery” will take place Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Talcott Mountain Science Planetarium. A reception will follow the lecture. Tickets are available here.
The Talcott Mountain Research Institute (TMRI) is the research-focused arm of Talcott Mountain Science Center, Academy, & Research Institute. TMRI immerses students and researchers in sustained scientific inquiry, connects young scholars with leading investigators, and engages the public through initiatives such as the On the Shoulders of Giants Lecture Series and immersive STEM travel programs. Through partnerships with STEM professionals, colleges, universities, and research institutions, TMRI cultivates disciplined curiosity, collaborative problem-solving, and enduring intellectual challenge. Learn more at talcottmountainresearch.org.