Collaborative Research: Astrophysical Transients as Novel Probes of Galaxy Evolution

Supernovae play a major role in shaping galaxies by regulating star formation, driving powerful gas outflows, and spreading the elements needed for future generations of stars. While computer models have advanced rapidly, observations have not yet been able to directly connect supernova explosions to their effects on galaxies. This project brings together researchers at the University of Hawai’i and New Mexico State University to use discoveries from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), along with advanced spectroscopic observations, to study how supernovae influence galaxies of all sizes, especially dwarf galaxies. The results will improve our understanding of galaxy evolution, test important theories of galaxy formation, and train the next generation of astronomers in this emerging area of research. This project will forge new understanding into the star formation and chemical enrichment history of the Universe by combining LSST discoveries with next-generation spectroscopic surveys and integral-field spectroscopy on NMSU and UH telescopes. The team will measure the rates, energetics, and environmental impacts of Supernovae (SNe) across galaxy mass, from dwarf galaxies to Milky Way–like systems through galactic wind kinematics, abundance variations, and star formation histories. These measurements will uniquely constrain the energetic mode by which SN feedback couples to the surrounding medium, the timescales and extent over which metals are distributed by SN events, and to what degree SNe regulate star formation episodes. This project will integrate research, education, and outreach across New Mexico and Hawai‘i. The PIs will expand the CosmoVis 3D visualization platform into virtual-reality and planetarium formats for use in classrooms and public venues, in partnership with the NMSU STEM Outreach Center, public schools across southern New Mexico, and the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and Journey through the Universe Programs in Hawai‘i. Activities will feed into established programs such as HI-STAR and Maunakea Scholars, connecting students from K–12 through undergraduate levels to cutting-edge astronomical research. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.