Carolin Crawford facts for kids

Carolin Susan Crawford is a British scientist who studies space (an astrophysicist). She is also great at explaining science to everyone. She used to work at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge and was a special member (called an emeritus fellow) at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Her School Days

Carolin Crawford went to Newnham College, Cambridge. There, she studied a special math course called the Mathematical Tripos and earned her first degree in mathematics in 1985. Later, in 1988, she got her PhD (a very high degree) from the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. For her PhD, she studied something called "cooling flows," which are about how hot gas in space cools down.

Her Career and Research

After getting her PhD, Dr. Crawford continued her research. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher and a research fellow at different colleges like Balliol College, Oxford and Newnham College, Cambridge. From 1996 to 2007, she had a special research position called a Royal Society University Research Fellowship.

In 2004, she became a Fellow and College Lecturer at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. She also helped students apply to study physical sciences there. At the same time, starting in 2005, she became the Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy. This role meant she helped share exciting discoveries about space with the public.

From 2011 to 2015, Dr. Crawford was the Gresham Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College. In this role, she gave free public talks about astronomy and astrophysics in London.

What She Studies

Dr. Crawford's main research looks at huge groups of galaxies called galaxy clusters. She uses different types of telescopes, including X-ray, optical, and infrared, to understand what happens around the biggest galaxies in these clusters.

She studies how hot gas (called the intra-cluster medium), warm gas, and cold gas clouds interact. She also looks at how new stars form and how powerful jets of energy shoot out from the supermassive black hole at the center of these galaxies.

Sharing Science and Awards

Dr. Crawford loves to share her knowledge of astronomy with others. She gives many public lectures, talks, workshops, and debates all over the UK and beyond. Each year, she speaks to over 4,000 people about space!

She also appears on radio shows, like In Our Time on BBC Radio 4, to talk about science.

In 2009, Dr. Crawford received a special award called the Women of Outstanding Achievement Award. This award recognized her amazing ability to explain science and how she helps society by doing so.

See also

In Spanish: Carolin Crawford para niños