Co-Investigator Piper Sledge Champions Indigenous Engagement in Cosmic Explorer's Gravitational-Wave Observatory Initiative

Piper Sledge (Associate Professor, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and Director of Community-based Initiatives and Research for Cosmic Explorer) is a co-investigator on the Indigenous and Place-based Partnership and Responsible Siting Program within the Cosmic Explorer Project (CE). Cosmic Explorer (CE) is a concept for a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory in the United States. This project is currently in year 2 of a 3-year, National Science Foundation funded grant not only to build the technical capacity to observe phenomena at the edge of the universe (such as the collisions of black holes), but to reimagine how scientific facilities are conceptualized and sited. The approach to large facility science focuses on building mutually beneficial relationships with local and Indigenous communities by developing shared resources; appropriately integrating Indigenous science; and creating frameworks for facilities construction that integrate the interests, priorities, and goals of Indigenous communities from initial conception through decommissioning. CE endeavors to lead not just in gravitational-wave astronomy but also as an example of community integrated and socially responsive science. This project is a collaboration of universities across the country and internationally. Of the multi-million dollar initial grant, $1.9 million has been devoted to collaborators at the U of A across the Departments of Astronomy, Gender and Women’s Studies, Geography, and Environmental Science to develop a socially integrated and community engaged approach to large facilities siting.