Anneila Sargent
Encyclopedia
Anneila Sargent is a Scottish
–American
astronomer
, who specializes in star formation
.
, Fife
, and schooled at Burntisland Primary School and Kirkcaldy High School
. She completed a BSc Honours degree in Physics at the University of Edinburgh
in 1963, and then emigrated to the United States, first studying at the University of California
, and then from 1967 the California Institute of Technology
, where she was awarded her PhD. She is currently the Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Astronomy at Caltech and has served as director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory
and Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy
. She served as president of the American Astronomical Society
from 2000 to 2002, continuing to serve on the council since. Sargent became the Vice President for Student Affairs at Caltech on December 1, 2007.
Sargent was nominated in 2011 by President Obama to serve a six-year term on the National Science Board
. She has served on committees such as the NRC
's Committee for Astronomy and Astrophysics, NSF
's Mathematical and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee, and in 1995/6 chaired the Visiting Committee to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. She has been Chair of NASA's Space Science Advisory Committee since 1994. She is also Director of the Combined Array for Research in Millimeterwave Astronomy (CARMA).
Sargent won both the NASA Public Service Medal
and the Caltech Woman of the Year Award in 1998. Asteroid
18244 Anneila
is named in her honor. The University of Edinburgh named her Alumnus of the Year in 2002 and conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Science on her in 2008.
Her husband is fellow astronomer Wallace L. W. Sargent
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
–American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, who specializes in star formation
Star formation
Star formation is the process by which dense parts of molecular clouds collapse into a ball of plasma to form a star. As a branch of astronomy star formation includes the study of the interstellar medium and giant molecular clouds as precursors to the star formation process and the study of young...
.
Biography
Sargent was brought up in BurntislandBurntisland
Burntisland is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland on the Firth of Forth. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 5,940....
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, and schooled at Burntisland Primary School and Kirkcaldy High School
Kirkcaldy High School
Kirkcaldy High School is a comprehensive state school in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.Kirkcaldy High school was admitted to the "Schools of Ambition" programme in 2007....
. She completed a BSc Honours degree in Physics at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1963, and then emigrated to the United States, first studying at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, and then from 1967 the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, where she was awarded her PhD. She is currently the Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Astronomy at Caltech and has served as director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory
Owens Valley Radio Observatory
The Owens Valley Radio Observatory is a radio observatory located near Bishop, California, within the Owens Valley, California region, approximately 250 miles north of Los Angeles on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. It is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology. For...
and Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy
Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy
The Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy is an astronomical instrument comprising 23 radio telescopes. These telescopes form an astronomical interferometer where all the signals are combined in a purpose-built computer to produce high-resolution astronomical images.- Location...
. She served as president of the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
from 2000 to 2002, continuing to serve on the council since. Sargent became the Vice President for Student Affairs at Caltech on December 1, 2007.
Sargent was nominated in 2011 by President Obama to serve a six-year term on the National Science Board
National Science Board
The National Science Board of the United States is composed of 25 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, representing the broad U.S. science and engineering community. The Board establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation within the framework...
. She has served on committees such as the NRC
United States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
's Committee for Astronomy and Astrophysics, NSF
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
's Mathematical and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee, and in 1995/6 chaired the Visiting Committee to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. She has been Chair of NASA's Space Science Advisory Committee since 1994. She is also Director of the Combined Array for Research in Millimeterwave Astronomy (CARMA).
Sargent won both the NASA Public Service Medal
NASA Public Service Medal
NASA's Exceptional Public Service Medal is a United States government award granted for exceptional contributions to the mission of NASA to anyone who was not a government employee when the service was performed.- See also :...
and the Caltech Woman of the Year Award in 1998. Asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
18244 Anneila
18244 Anneila
- External links :*...
is named in her honor. The University of Edinburgh named her Alumnus of the Year in 2002 and conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Science on her in 2008.
Her husband is fellow astronomer Wallace L. W. Sargent
Wallace L. W. Sargent
Wallace Leslie William Sargent is an American astronomer. He is often known as Wal Sargent. Although now a U.S. citizen, he was born in Elsham, England. He received his Ph.D...
.