Élodie Lescure receives the NSERC scholarship: Unveiling the cosmic origin of the heaviest elements

“Receiving the NSERC showed me that I had potential in research and was a sign that I was supported by my institution”

Élodie Lescure started her M.Sc. in Physics in September 2022 in the lab of Dr. John Ruan. She chose Bishops because of its vast expertise in physics research and the amazing mentors who helped her develop her full potential and broaden her critical thinking.  Once she arrived, she fell in love with the beauty of the campus and the great resources available.   Élodie also represents Bishop’s on  the Graduate Student Committee of the Canadian Astronomical Society .

The vastness of the Universe has always fascinated Élodie, and it was clear from the very beginning that astrophysics was her chosen field. Because so much is still unknown, she can be part of the exciting adventure of making new discoveries.  Her study topic focuses on neutron stars mergers and if they are dominant site of production for heavy elements. We know that our world is built from these elements, but the biggest question is: Where do they come from? What is already known is that neutron star mergers do produce heavy elements, but there is mounting evidence that this is not the only source of heavy elements in the Universe. Élodie is making connections by directly comparing the heavy elements produced in GW170817 (which is two neutron stars colliding producing a kilo nova) to that of the Milky Way.

Élodie is planning to finish her degree  during the summer of 2024. She is also registered in the Graduate Certificate in Knowledge Mobilization part time. She is using the tools learned in this program to help organize a viewing event on Bishop’s campus for the total solar eclipse of April 2024. Élodie would like to continue her studies at the doctoral level in the area of multi-messenger astrophysics. In yet more exciting news, , Élodie has also been accepted to the Vatican Observatory Summer School where she will  learn to work with large scale data, tools for accessing and analyzing images and datasets with hands-on experience with data analysis for their own astronomical projects.

Joannie St-Germain M.Sc. representing the Research Office