Paula Szkody

Summary

Paula Szkody (born July 17, 1948)[1] is a professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Washington in Seattle.[2] She served as president of the American Astronomical Society from 2020 to 2022.[3]

Paula Szkody
Born (1948-07-17) July 17, 1948 (age 75)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materMichigan State University, University of Washington
AwardsAnnie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy
InstitutionsUniversity of Washington
Websitehttp://www.astro.washington.edu/szkody/

Early life and education edit

Szkody was born on July 17, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan. She earned her B.A. degree in astrophysics at Michigan State University in 1970, and her Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Washington in 1975.[1]

Work edit

Paula Szkody specializes in cataclysmic variable stars, which are binary star systems that periodically undergo energetic outbursts.[2] She is an active participant in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) searching for new dwarf novae and has worked with the XTE, ASCA, ROSAT, IUE, HST, EUVE and XMM-Newton space missions.[4]

Activities edit

In 2005 she became the editor-in-chief of the astronomical journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PASP).[5] She is also very active in professional-amateur collaboration, especially in conjunction with the American Association of Variable Star Observers,[4] for whom she has served both as an officer on the board (2003-2009) and, for the term 2007-09, as President of the organization.[6] Szkody was president of the American Astronomical Society from 2020 to 2022.[3]

Honors and awards edit

In 1978, she was awarded the Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy by the American Astronomical Society.[7][1]

As of 1994, she is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[1]

A minor planet has been named after her.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Oakes, Elizabeth H. "Szkody, Paula." Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of World Scientists, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed October 20, 2015).
  2. ^ a b "Paula's Astronomy Page". University of Washington Astronomy Department. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Current Board of Trustees | American Astronomical Society". aas.org. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  4. ^ a b "Interview: Paula Szkody". Cataclysmic Variable Network (CVnet). 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
  5. ^ "Paula Szkody Appointed Editor of PASP « Astronomical Society". Astrosociety.org. Archived from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
  6. ^ Saladyga, Michael; Waagen, Elizabeth O. "Professional Astronomers in Service to the AAVSO" (PDF). The American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy | American Astronomical Society". Aas.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
  8. ^ Schmadel, Lutz (2015). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names Addendum to 6th Edition: 2012-2014. Springer International Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 9783319176772. Retrieved 20 October 2015.

Further reading edit

  • Shearer, Benjamin; Shearer, Barbara (1997). "Notable women in the physical sciences : a biographical dictionary". Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. OCLC 644247606. Retrieved 25 March 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links edit