The College of Professional and Continuing Studies hosted its second Lunch with the Professor Zoom session on March 4, 2026, featuring Dr. Steve Gullberg, faculty lead for the Aerospace and Defense Management program. A graduate of the former College of Liberal Studies, Dr. Gullberg opened the session by sharing his professional journey through the military and the airline industry before turning to his academic work in cultural astronomy. During the presentation, Dr. Gullberg introduced students to both archeoastronomy, which examines astronomical alignments in ancient sites and structures, and ethnoastronomy, which studies the sky-related traditions of living Indigenous communities. He described how civilizations used the Sun and stars to determine planting seasons, religious ceremonies, festivals, and systems of timekeeping, often developing these practices independently across the world.
Much of the session focused on the Inka civilization of the 1400s and 1500s, including its rulers, mythology, and worldview, and how these differed from those of the Spanish upon their arrival. Dr. Gullberg shared vivid photographs from his research travels to Peru and other significant cultural sites, giving students a visual window into the landscapes and structures that shaped ancient astronomical knowledge.
The 45-minute session drew 47 participants and builds on the success of the inaugural Lunch with the Professor event in Fall 2025, led by Dr. Arunava Roy on the topic of applied AI, which attracted 77 attendees. The series continues to offer PACS students an informal, engaging opportunity to learn from faculty and explore new ideas beyond the classroom.
