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Stars, Planets, Life, and the Universe
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Presenters:
Dr. Matthew Bobrowsky
Dr. Matthew Bobrowsky is an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute
(STScI) who works as a science content specialist for the Origins Education Forum-a
NASA educational group concerned with the origin of galaxies, stars, planets, and
life. He is responsible for collecting and researching scientific information related
to NASA's Origins missions and presenting it in a form appropriate to various education
and public outreach audiences. Dr. Bobrowsky writes educational material (e.g.,
K-12 science activities and lessons) and prepares presentations for educational
workshops.
In addition, Dr. Bobrowsky has been teaching at the college level for 20 years.
He serves on the science advisory committee for his local school district and has
been awarded a number of grants for K-12 professional development in science. He
has received numerous teaching awards, including the University of Maryland Board
of Regents' Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.
In his astronomical research, Dr. Bobrowsky has made astronomical observations with
many telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope. His specialty is the study
of planetary nebulae, clouds of gas expanding outward from aging stars.
Dr. Natalie Batalha
Dr. Natalie Batalha is currently Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at
San Jose State University.
She has been affiliated with NASA Ames Research Center since 2000 where she conducts
research on extra-solar planet detection. She is the Principal Investigator of the
Vulcan planet search project. The Vulcan team runs and operates a robotic telescope
atop Mt. Hamilton at Lick Observatory. Its objective is to identify giant planets
orbiting other sun-like stars. She also works as a support scientist for the Kepler
mission. Kepler is a NASA Discovery mission whose objective is to identify and characterize
earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars.
Dr. Batalha received her Bachelor's degree is Physics from the University of California,
Berkeley and her Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of California, Santa
Cruz.
For more information contact symposia@nsta.org
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