Hallo von den Sternen! That means: Hello from the stars! in German. My name is Shalini, and even though I am not writing from outer space, I am an astrophysicist. I love thinking about how the Universe formed. What is in the night sky? To me, it is full of beautiful galaxies and black holes. And what does the night sky tell us about the past and fate of the cosmos? I want to find out!
I grew up near New York City. My father would often take me and my sisters to the American Museum of Natural History. Whenever I looked up in the planetarium, I felt like I was floating in something mysterious. In one picture my family has, my father is carrying me on his shoulders in front of the planetarium dome. I was holding a small paper and pen: I have always been a scientist and a writer. So, when I went to college in California, I decided to study astronomy and literature.
This year, I am in a lovely city in Germany, called Heidelberg. I came here to follow my dreams of studying stars and exploring a part of the world that I have never been to before -- right here on Earth. I am so excited to meet new friends and learn more about the world. Join me on an out-of-this-galaxy adventure!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
