Alberto Conti
Encyclopedia
Alberto Conti is an astrophysicist
at the Space Telescope Science Institute
. He is one of the creators of the GoogleSky concept.
, Italy
. He received his laurea
degree in physics
from the University of Trieste
, Italy, with a thesis titled “Binary Galaxies in the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
(CfA) Redshift Survey
.” During the following two years, he worked on the largest sample (at the time) of optical rotation curves of galaxies at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA
), in Trieste
. There he developed algorithms to automate the extraction of physical parameters from galactic rotation curves, paving the way for the analysis of much larger samples. He has since specialized in statistical methods, computational astrophysics, and large datasets.
in 2000 Conti graduated from the Ohio State University
with a Ph.D. thesis on correlating galactic properties with the physics of galaxy formation. He then became a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Pittsburgh
.
In 2003, Conti joined the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) to co-lead the development of a new archive for the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX
). He integrated this effort with work on the National Virtual Observatory
.
In January 2005, he became Branch Manager for the Astronomy Tools and Applications (ASTTA) branch at STScI’s Engineering System and Software Division. ASTTA develops some of the best-known software products for the astronomical community, such as Astronomer Proposal Tool, PyRAF, and Multidrizzle.
At the 15th annual ADASS conference in October 2005, Conti became interested in the Google Earth
software that allows anyone to browse Earth
with a simple point-and-click interface. Back at STScI he sent a proposal to John Hanke
, the Head of Google Earth and Google Maps
, to extend the Google Earth interface to space-based data. Hanke agreed to have Brian McClendon establish a project plan for such a product, called GoogleSky. The project, co-led with Dr. Carol Christian, started on April 11, 2006 at Google with this tech talk.
In September 2006, Conti became Chief Engineer for the Data Management System at STScI. Following his involvement with Google
he became Development Manager at STScI’s Community Missions Office (CMO). CMO serves as the conduit between mission teams and STScI personnel to ensure support for mission science operations, data archiving, grants administration, peer review and education/outreach.
In 2008 Conti received first prize in the Pirelli Internetional Award
for the development of GoogleSky.http://www.pirelliaward.com/index.html
In 2010 Conti became the Archive Scientist for the Multimission Archive at Space Telescope, the NASA UV and Optical data archive.
In 2011 Conti became the Innovation Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's premier space observatory of the next decade.
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
at the Space Telescope Science Institute
Space Telescope Science Institute
The Space Telescope Science Institute is the science operations center for the Hubble Space Telescope and for the James Webb Space Telescope...
. He is one of the creators of the GoogleSky concept.
Professional career
Conti was born in PalmanovaPalmanova
Palmanova is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, close to the border with Slovenia. It is located 20 km from Udine, 28 km from Gorizia and 55 km from Trieste near the junction of the Autostrada Alpe-Adria and the Autostrada Venezia-Trieste .Palmanova is famous for its fortress...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He received his laurea
Laurea
In Italy, the laurea is the main post-secondary academic degree.-Reforms due to the Bologna process:Spurred by the Bologna process, a major reform was instituted in 1999 to introduce easier university degrees comparable to the bachelors...
degree in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from the University of Trieste
University of Trieste
The University of Trieste is a medium-sized university in Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. The university consists of 12 faculties, boasts a wide and almost complete range of university courses and currently has about 23,000 students enrolled and 1,000 professors...
, Italy, with a thesis titled “Binary Galaxies in the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is one of the largest and most diverse astrophysical institutions in the world, where scientists carry out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education...
(CfA) Redshift Survey
Redshift survey
In astronomy, a redshift survey, or galaxy survey, is a survey of a section of the sky to measure the redshift of astronomical objects. Using Hubble's law, the redshift can be used to calculate the distance of an object from Earth. By combining redshift with angular position data, a redshift...
.” During the following two years, he worked on the largest sample (at the time) of optical rotation curves of galaxies at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA
Sissa
Sissa is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 100 km northwest of Bologna and about 20 km northwest of Parma....
), in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. There he developed algorithms to automate the extraction of physical parameters from galactic rotation curves, paving the way for the analysis of much larger samples. He has since specialized in statistical methods, computational astrophysics, and large datasets.
in 2000 Conti graduated from the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
with a Ph.D. thesis on correlating galactic properties with the physics of galaxy formation. He then became a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
In 2003, Conti joined the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) to co-lead the development of a new archive for the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX
GALEX
The Galaxy Evolution Explorer is an orbiting ultraviolet space telescope launched on April 28, 2003. A Pegasus rocket placed the craft into a nearly circular orbit at an altitude of and an inclination to the Earth's equator of 29 degrees....
). He integrated this effort with work on the National Virtual Observatory
National Virtual Observatory
The US National Virtual Observatory was conceived to allow scientists to access data from multiple astronomical observatories, including ground and space-based facilities, through a single portal. Currently, the National Science Foundation funds the information technology research that created...
.
In January 2005, he became Branch Manager for the Astronomy Tools and Applications (ASTTA) branch at STScI’s Engineering System and Software Division. ASTTA develops some of the best-known software products for the astronomical community, such as Astronomer Proposal Tool, PyRAF, and Multidrizzle.
At the 15th annual ADASS conference in October 2005, Conti became interested in the Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
software that allows anyone to browse Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
with a simple point-and-click interface. Back at STScI he sent a proposal to John Hanke
John Hanke
John Hanke is a founder and was the CEO of Keyhole, Inc., which was acquired by Google in 2004 and whose flagship product was renamed to Google Earth. Hanke the was formerly the Vice President of Product Management for Google's "Geo" division...
, the Head of Google Earth and Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
, to extend the Google Earth interface to space-based data. Hanke agreed to have Brian McClendon establish a project plan for such a product, called GoogleSky. The project, co-led with Dr. Carol Christian, started on April 11, 2006 at Google with this tech talk.
In September 2006, Conti became Chief Engineer for the Data Management System at STScI. Following his involvement with Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
he became Development Manager at STScI’s Community Missions Office (CMO). CMO serves as the conduit between mission teams and STScI personnel to ensure support for mission science operations, data archiving, grants administration, peer review and education/outreach.
In 2008 Conti received first prize in the Pirelli Internetional Award
Pirelli Internetional Award
The Pirelli Internetional Award was first offered in 1996, as the first international multimedia competition for the communication of science & technology conducted entirely on the internet. Since then, annual awards have been granted to the best multimedia presentations focussing on themes...
for the development of GoogleSky.http://www.pirelliaward.com/index.html
In 2010 Conti became the Archive Scientist for the Multimission Archive at Space Telescope, the NASA UV and Optical data archive.
In 2011 Conti became the Innovation Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's premier space observatory of the next decade.