Finland ~ Arctic Magnificence
February 19, 2026, — February 27, 2026,
Experience the Northern Lights in Finland
In February 2026, join fellow Techers for an immersive winter adventure across Finland and Estonia. From the vibrant capital of Helsinki to the snowy landscapes of Lapland, this small-group program offers a unique opportunity to explore Nordic culture, Arctic science, and the natural wonder of the aurora borealis.
This journey features guided cultural excursions, enriching local experiences, and the rare chance to view the Northern Lights from a private glass-domed cabin. Participants will also visit a Sámi reindeer farm, snowshoe under the stars, and enjoy a ferry ride to the medieval city of Tallinn, Estonia.
Gregg W. Hallinan, PhD
Professor of Astronomy; Director, Owens Valley Radio Observatory
Gregg Hallinan is a professor of astronomy at Caltech and director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). Originally from Ireland, he earned his undergraduate and PhD degrees from the National University of Ireland, Galway. He came to the United States as a Jansky Fellow at UC Berkeley in 2010 before joining the Caltech faculty in 2012.
Hallinan’s research focuses on discovering and characterizing new and variable sources in the radio sky, particularly the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events. He also investigates radio emission from aurorae on exoplanets and brown dwarfs, aiming for the first detection of a planetary magnetosphere beyond our solar system.
Driven by these broad scientific themes, Hallinan has led the development of a new generation of radio telescopes optimized for time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy. His group is pioneering real-time radio imaging technology, culminating in the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA-2000)—a 2,000-dish telescope set to become the most powerful radio observatory in the world.