Carol Christian
Encyclopedia
Carol Christian is an American
astronomer
, educator, and Information Technologist. Her astronomical work is focussed on stellar populations. She has worked extensively in studying the use of emerging technologies for science education.
. She experienced her childhood in that city, characterized by dark skies and quiet summer nights. She participated in the usual activities of girls in the 1950s: piano lessons, ballet and horseback riding, an activity she still loves. When she was very young she had a dog named Koko followed by other canine companions until the present day. Ever since her youth, Christian has been an animal lover with special affinity for dogs and horses. She is also a strong advocate for animal rights .
, flying
and skydiving. She is a flight instructor
and has competed in aerobatics
competitions.
Christian has one brother, Robert Christian who is an aerospace
engineer
.
She was married to Patrick Waddell from 1981 to 1988, and lived in Hawaii. Both worked at Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
.
in Physics
and Astronomy
at Boston University
. She has been a staff scientist involved at instrument, software and archive development at several observatories including Kitt Peak National Observatory
, Canada France Hawaii Telescope, and the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer
mission at UC Berkeley. At the STScI she served as the Head of the Office of Public Outreach from 1995-2001 and also managed a division devoted to innovation and emerging technology use. She serves on Board of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
, was a councilor for the American Astronomical Society
, is a member of the NASA Earth Science archive users group, and is on Rochester’s Center for Imaging Science Board of Directors.
Christian serves as the Education Director for the National Virtual Observatory
Project. In that role, she fosters collaboration across a variety of education projects making use of the growing astronomical archives available to researchers and the public. She also is the Deputy of the Community Missions Office, a unit that provides technical support from Hubble to other astronomical observatories.
For three years until October 2006, she was on partial detail as a Science and Technology Policy Advisor at the Department of State. At State, she examined methods for deploying simple interfaces to satellite imagery and geographic information (map systems that depict information such as roads, terrain, vegetation, population density, temperature, soil content, etc.) for diplomatic and foreign policy. Her other interest is in emerging information technologies for research and education.
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...
, educator, and Information Technologist. Her astronomical work is focussed on stellar populations. She has worked extensively in studying the use of emerging technologies for science education.
Early life and studies
Carol Ann Christian was born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. She experienced her childhood in that city, characterized by dark skies and quiet summer nights. She participated in the usual activities of girls in the 1950s: piano lessons, ballet and horseback riding, an activity she still loves. When she was very young she had a dog named Koko followed by other canine companions until the present day. Ever since her youth, Christian has been an animal lover with special affinity for dogs and horses. She is also a strong advocate for animal rights .
Personal life
Christian's hobbies include scuba divingScuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, flying
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
and skydiving. She is a flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
and has competed in aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
competitions.
Christian has one brother, Robert Christian who is an aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
.
She was married to Patrick Waddell from 1981 to 1988, and lived in Hawaii. Both worked at Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
The Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope is located near the summit of Mauna Kea mountain on Hawaii's Big Island at an altitude of 4,204 meters , and is one of the observatories that comprise the Mauna Kea Observatory...
.
Career
Christian received a PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
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...
and Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. She has been a staff scientist involved at instrument, software and archive development at several observatories including Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory
The Kitt Peak National Observatory is a United States astronomical observatory located on 2,096 m Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert on the Tohono O'odham Nation, southwest of Tucson...
, Canada France Hawaii Telescope, and the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer
Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer
The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer was a space telescope for ultraviolet astronomy, launched on June 7, 1992. With instruments for UV radiation between wavelengths of 7 and 76 nm, the EUVE was the first satellite mission especially for the short-wave ultraviolet range...
mission at UC Berkeley. At the STScI she served as the Head of the Office of Public Outreach from 1995-2001 and also managed a division devoted to innovation and emerging technology use. She serves on Board of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
, was a councilor for 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...
, is a member of the NASA Earth Science archive users group, and is on Rochester’s Center for Imaging Science Board of Directors.
Christian serves as the Education Director for 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...
Project. In that role, she fosters collaboration across a variety of education projects making use of the growing astronomical archives available to researchers and the public. She also is the Deputy of the Community Missions Office, a unit that provides technical support from Hubble to other astronomical observatories.
For three years until October 2006, she was on partial detail as a Science and Technology Policy Advisor at the Department of State. At State, she examined methods for deploying simple interfaces to satellite imagery and geographic information (map systems that depict information such as roads, terrain, vegetation, population density, temperature, soil content, etc.) for diplomatic and foreign policy. Her other interest is in emerging information technologies for research and education.