Christina Richey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christina Rae Richey
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| Born | |
| Alma mater | Wheeling Jesuit University The University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Known for | anti-harassment efforts |
| Awards | 2014 NASA Headquarters Special Service Award, 2015 WJU James O'Brien Award from Wheeling Jesuit University, 2015 Harold Masursky Award from the Division for Planetary Sciences, 2016 UAB Trailblazing Alumni Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Planetary Science and Astrophysics |
| Institutions | Goddard Space Flight Center NASA Headquarters |
| Doctoral advisor | Perry A. Gerakines |
Christina "Chrissy" Richey is a super smart American scientist. She studies planets and stars, which is called planetary science and astrophysics. Chrissy works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. She helps with exciting space missions, like the Europa Clipper mission. She also works to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome in science workplaces.
Before working at JPL, Chrissy was a program officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She helped manage NASA's planetary science programs. She was also involved with the OSIRIS-REx mission and helped advise on research for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
Chrissy is also well-known for teaching people about how to stop harassment in workplaces, especially in science fields. She led important groups like the American Astronomical Society's Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy. She also co-chaired a group for the Division for Planetary Sciences that focused on making the work environment better for everyone. She writes a lot for the Women in Astronomy blog too.
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Chrissy Richey's Early Life and Education
Chrissy Richey got her first degree in physics from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2004. She then earned her master's and PhD degrees in physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. For her PhD, she studied icy moons in our Solar System and the dust and gas between stars.
After her PhD, she became a special researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. There, she studied tiny dust particles. This helped scientists understand how new stars and planets form.
Chrissy Richey's Exciting Career and Research
Chrissy Richey currently works at JPL. She is a project staff scientist for the Europa Clipper Mission. This amazing NASA mission will explore Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. Scientists want to find out if this icy moon could have conditions suitable for life.
Before her current role, Chrissy was a deputy science advisor for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD). She helped share important information about research awards from different parts of the SMD. She also made sure to communicate with scientists working with the SMD.
She was also a deputy program scientist for the OSIRIS-REx Mission. This mission launched in 2016. It traveled to an asteroid named Bennu and brought a sample back to Earth. Scientists are studying this sample to learn how planets formed and how life began. It also helps us understand asteroids that could come close to Earth.
Making Science a Better Place for Everyone
Besides her science work, Chrissy Richey has worked hard to make science more welcoming for everyone. She has given many talks at conferences about harassment. She teaches people how to solve these problems in the science community. She explains how harassment can hurt colleagues.
Chrissy says that women in certain situations, like women of color, young women, or those trying to advance their careers, are more likely to face harassment. She led the American Astronomical Society's Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy from 2015 to 2017. She also co-chaired the Division for Planetary Sciences' Subcommittee on Professional Climate and Culture. These roles helped her work towards a fairer and safer environment for all scientists.
Awards and Honors for Chrissy Richey
Chrissy Richey has received many awards for her important work:
- 2014: She was honored with a NASA Headquarters Honor Award.
- 2015: She received the WJU James O'Brien Award from Wheeling Jesuit University.
- 2015: She was named the Alumni Scholar in Residence by Wheeling Jesuit University.
- 2015: She received the Harold Masursky Award from the Division for Planetary Sciences. This award is for excellent service to planetary science and exploration.
- 2016: She received the Trailblazing Alumni Award from The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
- 2020: She was chosen as a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society.
