Keynote Speaker Bios & Pics

Dr. Charles Liu

Dr. Charles Liu is a Professor of Astrophysics at the City University of New York’s College of Staten Island. He is also an Associate with the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in the Department of Astrophysics. His research focuses on colliding galaxies, quasars, and star formation history of the universe. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Harvard University, and Doctorate from the University of Arizona; he completed his postdoctoral research at Kitt Peak National Observatory, and Columbia University.

Dr. Liu is among a select group of international experts studying data colleted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Hubble Space Telescope. Along with academic journals, he writes the astronomy column, “Out There,” for Natural History Magazine. Together with co-authors Robert Irion and Neil Tyson, he received the 2001 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for his book, One Universe: At Home In The Cosmos. He and his wife, Amy, have three children.

Dominic Carter

Veteran newsman Dominic Carter has been described as the best political reporter working in New York television today. A fixture at NY1 News since the news channel launched in 1992, Carter has released a book on his life entitled No Momma's Boy, a book that chronicles his triumphant struggle to overcome his mother's mental illness while growing up in a Bronx Housing Project.

As the host of NY1's nightly political show "Inside City Hall," Carter has handled some of the station's most challenging assignments, and has interviewed every major political player in the state, as well as many national and international leaders. Throughout this year’s presidential primaries, Dominic has appeared on the nationally syndicated television show Hardball with Chris Matthews, and CNN.

In 2006, he received widespread acclaim for his role as the moderator of a series of state-wide debates for governor, U.S. Senator, and state attorney general. During the first debate with Senator Hillary Clinton, he made international headlines when Clinton said for the first time that she was considering running for the presidency of the United States.

His repertoire of exclusive interviews includes former President Bill Clinton and South African President Nelson Mandela. Carter has appeared on the cover of The New York Times TV Guide, which called the veteran journalist "a force to be reckoned with." He has also been profiled in The Washington Post, The New York Post, and New York Magazine, among others.

Carter received a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism from the State University of New York at Cortland, and attended graduate school at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications before starting his career in radio.

In his free time he often speaks to youth groups about the importance of education and achievement. He has received the Samuel P. Peabody Award from the Citizens' Committee for Children for his vision, innovation, and dedication to children and families.