American Association for the Advancement of Science Honors Astronomer Karen Kwitter
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has honored Karen B. Kwitter, the Ebenezer Fitch Professor of Astronomy and chair of the astronomy department at Williams College, with the distinction of Fellow for her meritorious efforts to advance science. Most specifically, Kwitter was recognized for her "distinguished contributions to research on planetary nebulae and for efforts to involve undergraduates in astronomy research projects."In recognition, she will be named a Fellow in the AAAS at its annual meeting on February 14. The AAAS is a non-profit that advances science by "serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson, and professional association." The organization publishes the prestigious journal Science.
Kwitter's research centers on planetary nebulae, which are glowing gas shells ejected by low- to intermediate-mass stars before they die.
As part of a team of astronomers and students, she is currently using planetary nebulae to study the formation of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. Carrying out this ambitious project will require, among other efforts, a search for previously undetected planetary nebulae in the outlying regions of the Milky Way Galaxy and M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy), followed by observations of their spectra to determine their chemical compositions. This work by Kwitter and two colleagues, Bruce Balick of the University of Washington, and Richard Henry of the University of Oklahoma, recently was awarded a three-year grant of $583,000 by the National Science Foundation.
Kwitter is the author or co-author of more than 50 scientific papers appearing in the Astronomical Journal and the Astrophysical Journal, among others and four books, including "Force and Motion," "Our Solar System," and "Atmosphere and Weather" for the Hands-On Science series.
At Williams since 1979, she regularly teaches the introductory astrophysics course, in addition to Observational Cosmology and a seminar Between the Stars: The Interstellar Medium. Her astronomy students have participated extensively in all aspects of her research.
Combining her teaching and research interests, Kwitter and her colleague Henry have developed a Gallery of Planetary Nebular Spectra (http://www.williams.edu/Astronomy/research/PN/nebulae/), presenting spectra of more than 120 objects they have observed over the years, in a browsable format that also contains a zoomable spectrum display. Part of her NSF-funded project mentioned above will involve adding newly discovered nebulae to the database and incorporating chemical abundance information. With over 13,000 hits, the website is used as a research tool by professional astronomers as well as a teaching resource for astronomy classes.
Kwitter is a member of the Observatories Council of Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy, the American Astronomical Society, Sigma Xi, The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the International Astronomical Union.
In addition to teaching at Williams, she has taught at the University of Illinois. Kwitter received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of California-Los Angeles.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal Science. AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals.
