Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski
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Pasterski in 2017
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| Born | June 3, 1993 |
| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Harvard University (PhD) |
| Known for | Spin memory effect PSZ Triangle |
| Awards | Inaugural MIT Freshman Entrepreneurship Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Boeing Phantom Works CERN Perimeter Institute |
| Thesis | Implications of Superrotations (2019) |
| Doctoral advisor | Andrew Strominger |
Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski (born June 3, 1993) is an American theoretical physicist. This means she uses math and ideas to study the universe's biggest questions, like gravity and space-time. She is known for her work in high energy physics, which looks at the tiniest particles that make up everything.
Pasterski proudly calls herself a "first-generation Cuban-American." She graduated from Chicago's public school system. She attended the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a teenager and later earned her PhD from Harvard University.
Before she was 30, she was already a faculty member at the Perimeter Institute, a top research center for physics. In 2015, Forbes magazine named her one of the top 30 scientists under the age of 30.
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A Young Genius
Pasterski was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, who was an attorney and an electrical engineer, always encouraged her to chase her dreams. She attended special schools for gifted students, graduating from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in 2010.
But her talents weren't just in the classroom. She was also fascinated by flying.
- She took her first flying lesson when she was only 10 years old.
- At age 12, she started building her own single-engine airplane from a kit.
- By the time she was 16, she flew solo for the first time in the very plane she had built.
Education and Top Discoveries
Pasterski's amazing journey continued at MIT. As a sophomore, she worked on an experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator. She graduated from MIT with a perfect grade point average.
Groundbreaking Work at Harvard
While studying for her PhD at Harvard, she worked with scientist Andrew Strominger. Together, they made important discoveries about gravity. They explored something called the "spin memory effect," which is related to gravitational waves (ripples in space-time).
She also helped develop the "PSZ Triangle," a new idea that connects different concepts in physics. After getting her PhD in 2019, she became a leader in a new field called Celestial Holography. This is an exciting idea that suggests our three-dimensional universe might be like a hologram projected from a two-dimensional surface.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pasterski has been featured in many magazines and TV shows for her incredible work. She uses her fame to encourage young people, especially girls, to get into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
- In 2016, she was invited to the White House to support the Let Girls Learn program. Former First Lady Michelle Obama praised her work.
- She has traveled to Cuba and Russia to promote STEM education for girls.
- Her story has been shared in magazines and on TV channels all over the world, from Latin America to Europe and India.
Awards and Honors
Pasterski has received many awards for her achievements in both aviation and science.
- 2010: Illinois Aviation Trades Association Industry Achievement Award
- 2011: MIT Freshman Entrepreneurship Award
- 2012: Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Young Researcher
- 2015: Hertz Foundation Fellowship
- 2015: Forbes' 30 under 30 in Science
- 2017: Forbes 30 under 30 All-Star Alumni
- 2018: Named one of the "100 greatest innovators, artists, scientists and visionaries of our time" by the Albert Einstein Foundation.
- 2019: IMSA Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award
- 2023: Deputy Director of the Simons Collaboration on Celestial Holography
See also
In Spanish: Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski para niños
