Ask A Scientist: Planets and Stars, The Wonders in Our Night Sky with Claude Cournoyer-Cloutier

Claude Cournoyer-Cloutier is a Master's student in astronomy. She studies the formation of star clusters using computer simulations. Astronomy was her first love, and her childhood dream was to become an astronaut since she's always been fascinated by the idea of understanding how and why a system evolves. Prior to joining McMaster as a MSc student working on her degree in astronomy and astrophysics, Claude Claude Cournoyer-Cloutier received her BSc in physics from McGill University. She studies the formation of star clusters using computer simulations, specifically the impact of binary star systems on the clusters’ early evolution. She has always been fascinated by the idea of understanding how and why a system evolves — and in astronomy, using simulations is the only way to see a system evolve within a human lifetime. While a love of the hard science has been her passion Claude is fascinated by history and arts, especially literature — with her favourite play being The Trojan Women, by Euripides, and her my favourite novel, Pride and Prejudice.