Bärbel Koribalski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bärbel Koribalski
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| Born | 1964 (age 60–61) Wuppertal, Germany
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| Alma mater | University of Bonn |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics, physics |
| Institutions | CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science, Australia Telescope National Facility |
Dr. Bärbel Silvia Koribalski is a scientist who studies how galaxies form and change. She works at the CSIRO's Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) in Australia. This is a big science organization that helps us learn about space.
Dr. Koribalski earned her science degree (PhD) from the University of Bonn in Germany. She is well-known for her research on galaxies that are close to our own. In 2011, she received a special honor called the Newton Turner Award from CSIRO for her excellent work. She also leads a major project called WALLABY. This project uses a powerful telescope to map the entire sky.
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Studying Galaxies
Dr. Koribalski's main work is understanding how galaxies are born and how they change over billions of years. She uses special radio telescopes to study the gas inside galaxies. This gas helps scientists see how galaxies move and grow.
How Scientists Study Galaxies
Scientists like Dr. Koribalski use a special signal from space called the "HI 21-cm spectral line." This signal comes from neutral hydrogen gas, which is a basic building block of stars and galaxies. By studying this signal, they can learn about the gas's movement and how it helps galaxies form.
Dr. Koribalski uses telescopes like the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) in Narrabri, Australia. This telescope is also known as the Paul Wild Observatory. It helps her make detailed maps of galaxies.
Big Sky Surveys
Dr. Koribalski has been involved in several large projects that map huge parts of the sky. These projects are called "surveys." They help scientists find new galaxies and understand how they are spread out in the universe.
Some of the important surveys she has worked on include:
- The "HI Parkes All Sky Survey" (HIPASS).
- The "Local Volume HI Survey" (LVHIS), which she led using the Australia Telescope Compact Array.
- The "ASKAP HI All-Sky Survey," also known as WALLABY, where she is a main leader.
- Future surveys with the even bigger Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.
About Dr. Koribalski
Dr. Koribalski was born in Wuppertal, Germany, and grew up in Köln (Cologne) near the Rhine River. She studied physics at the University of Bonn. Outside of her science work, she enjoys athletics.
Education and Awards
- She received her Physics Diploma in 1990 from the University of Bonn.
- She completed her PhD in 1993, also at the University of Bonn. For her PhD work, she was awarded the Otto Hahn Medal, a very important prize for young scientists in Germany.
- In 2011, she received the Newton Turner Award from CSIRO for her outstanding contributions to science.
- Since 2012, she has been an OCE Science Leader at CSIRO, which means she helps guide important scientific research.
Professional Groups
Dr. Koribalski is part of several important groups for scientists:
- The International Astronomical Union (IAU), which brings together astronomers from all over the world.
- The Australian Society of Astronomy (ASA), a group for astronomers in Australia.
See also
In Spanish: Bärbel Koribalski para niños
- Peekaboo Galaxy
