Debra Elmegreen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Debra Elmegreen
|
|
|---|---|
.png)
Elmegreen in October 2018
|
|
| Born | November 23, 1952 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) Harvard University (MA, PhD) |
| Spouse(s) | Bruce Elmegreen |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | Kitt Peak Observatory Arecibo Observatory Hale Observatory Vassar College (1985–present) |
| Thesis | An Optical Analysis of Dust Complexes in Spiral Galaxies (1979) |
| Doctoral advisor | William Liller |
Debra Meloy Elmegreen (born November 23, 1952) is an American astronomer. She studies amazing things like star formation and how galaxies change over time.
Debra Elmegreen made history at Princeton University. She was the first woman to earn a degree in astrophysics there. She was also the first female post-doctoral researcher at the Carnegie Observatories.
Since 1985, she has taught astronomy at Vassar College. She held a special teaching position called the Maria Mitchell Chair. From 2010 to 2012, she was the president of the American Astronomical Society. She also led the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as its president from 2021 to 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Debra Elmegreen was born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1952. She became interested in space and stars when she was young.
She went to Princeton University and graduated in 1975. She earned her bachelor's degree in astrophysics. This was a big achievement, as she was the first woman to do so.
Later, she continued her studies at Harvard University. She earned both her master's degree and her Ph.D. in astronomy there. In 1976, she married Bruce Elmegreen, who is also an astronomer.
A Career in Astronomy
After finishing her studies, Debra Elmegreen worked at the Hale Observatory. This observatory is now known as Mount Wilson Observatory. She started her research there in 1979. She was the first woman to be a post-doctoral researcher at any of the Carnegie Observatories.
In 1985, she began teaching astronomy at Vassar College. She became an associate professor in 1990. By 1993, she was leading the astronomy department.
Studying Galaxies and Stars
Debra Elmegreen loves to study how stars are born. She also researches how galaxies form and change. These are called "star-forming galaxies."
In 1997, she wrote a textbook for college students. It was called Galaxies and Galactic Structure. She has also written more than 200 scientific papers. These papers share her research findings with other astronomers.
Leadership in Astronomy
Debra Elmegreen has held many important leadership roles. She was the president of the American Astronomical Society from 2010 to 2012. This is a major group for astronomers in America.
She also served on a special board in 2010. This board helped decide what astronomy research should focus on. It was part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
In 2013, she and her husband wrote a paper together. It was about how spiral shapes first appeared in the universe. This paper was published in the Astrophysical Journal.
From 2021 to 2024, she was the president of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This is a global group for astronomers. She was the President-Elect from 2018 to 2021 and a Vice President from 2015 to 2018.
Awards and Honors
Debra Elmegreen has received many awards for her work. In 2019, she was chosen to be part of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 2018, she won the George Van Biesbroeck Prize. This award is given for helping the field of astronomy. She was recognized for her service at local, national, and international levels.
She was also named a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2020. In 2011, she became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Publications
- Galaxies and Galactic Structure, Prentice Hall, 1997, ISBN: 0137792328
Debra Elmegreen has published over 200 academic papers, including:
- Elmegreen, D. M., S4 G team, 2011, “Grand Design and Flocculent Spirals in the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies,” Astrophysical Journal, 737, 32
- Elmegreen, D.M., et al. 2009, “Clumpy Galaxies in GEMS and GOODS: Massive Analogs of Local Dwarf Irregulars,” Astrophysical Journal, 701, 306
- Elmegreen, D., et al. 2007, “Resolved Galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Star Formation in Disks at High Redshift,” Astrophysical Journal, 658, 763
See also
In Spanish: Debra Elmegreen para niños
