Beth Willman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beth Willman
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Willman in 2021
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| Nationality | American |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
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| Thesis | A Survey for Resolved Milky Way Dwarf Galaxy Satellites (2003) |
| Doctoral advisor | Julianne Dalcanton |
Beth Willman is an American astronomer who studies space and the Universe. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LSST Discovery Alliance. This group helps support a very important telescope called the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Before this, Dr. Willman was a leader at the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, also known as NOIRLab. She also taught astronomy as a professor at Haverford College.
Contents
Becoming an Astronomer
Early Studies
Beth Willman started her journey into space science at Columbia University. There, she earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in astrophysics. Astrophysics is a field that combines physics with astronomy to understand how stars, planets, and galaxies work.
Advanced Degrees
In 2003, Dr. Willman earned her Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in astronomy from the University of Washington. A Ph.D. is the highest degree you can get in a specific subject. Her main teacher and guide for her Ph.D. work was Julianne Dalcanton.
For her Ph.D. project, called a thesis, Beth Willman studied small galaxies that orbit our own Milky Way galaxy. These are known as dwarf satellite galaxies.
Postdoctoral Research
After getting her Ph.D., Dr. Willman continued her research at different places. She was a James Arthur Fellow at New York University's Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics. She also worked as a Clay Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. These fellowships are special positions that allow scientists to focus on their research.
Exploring the Universe
Focus on Cosmology
Dr. Willman's main research area is cosmology. This is the study of the entire Universe, including how it began, how it has changed, and what its future might be. She is especially interested in understanding the smallest and dimmest galaxies we know about.
Discovering Willman 1
During her time as a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Willman made an exciting discovery. She found a very faint galaxy that was later named Willman 1 in her honor. This galaxy is one of the least luminous, or dimmest, galaxies ever found. Studying such faint galaxies helps scientists learn more about how galaxies form and evolve in the Universe.
External Links
- Beth Willman on LinkedIn
