Lucianne Walkowicz

Lucianne Walkowicz (/ˈwɔːkəwɪtʃ/ WAW-kə-witch;[1] born 1979) is an American astronomer, artist, and activist. They were based at the Adler Planetarium until 2022 and are noted for their research contributions in stellar magnetic activity and its impact on planetary suitability for extraterrestrial life.[2][3]

Lucianne Walkowicz
Lucianne Walkowicz in 2017
Born1979 (age 43–44)
New York City
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materJohns Hopkins University
University of Washington
SpouseFrank Okay
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy, Performing Arts, Activism
InstitutionsUC Berkeley
Princeton University
Adler Planetarium
ThesisSelf-Consistent Quiescent Model Atmospheres for M Dwarfs (2008)
Doctoral advisorSuzanne L. Hawley

Career

Since 2008, Walkowicz has been the chair of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Transients and Variable Stars collaboration and is the founding director of the LSST Data Science Fellowship program.[4][5][6] They are internationally recognized for their advocacy for conservation of dark night skies, and were named a 2011 National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow and a 2012 TED Senior Fellow.[7][5]

In 2017, Walkowicz was named the fifth Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.[8] They began their tenure October 1, 2017, working on a project titled “Fear of a Green Planet: Inclusive Systems of Thought for Human Exploration of Mars.”[8][9] Their project aims to create an inclusive framework for human exploration of Mars, encompassing both cutting-edge research on Mars as a place of essential astrobiological significance, while weaving in lessons from the diverse histories of exploration on Earth.[8][9]

Walkowicz holds a BS in physics and astronomy from Johns Hopkins University, and an MS and PhD in astronomy from the University of Washington. As an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins, they got their taste for astronomy while testing detectors for the Hubble Space Telescope’s new camera.[10]

On October 12, 2021, Walkowicz resigned[11] their position on NASA's Astrophysics Advisory Committee over the Agency's terse response to concerns on the naming of the James Webb Space Telescope.[12]

Walkowicz is co-founder of the JustSpace Alliance with Erika Nesvold[13] to "advocate for a more inclusive and ethical future in space, and to harness visions of tomorrow for a more just and equitable world today".[14]

Public appearances

Awards and honors

Asteroid 205599 Walkowicz, discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in 2001, was named in their honor.[3] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 17 November 2013 (M.P.C. 85914).[17]

Trademark lawsuit

In April 2020 Walkowicz filed a trademark lawsuit against Mattel and one of its subsidiaries, American Girl.[18] The lawsuit alleges that the toy-maker stole Walkowicz's likeness for the Luciana Vega astronaut doll.[19]

Personal life

Walkowicz is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[20][21]

Walkowicz is a movement artist, practicing aerial circus arts including Aerial Silks and Lyra. In 2019, they premiered a piece titled “40 Orbits,” at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards at Carnegie Hall.

References
  1. "Big questions about the universe with Lucianne Walkowicz". YouTube. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  2. Burke, Cassie Walker (July 15, 2015). "Meet Lucianne Walkowicz, an astronomer who's on the hunt for extraterrestrial life". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  3. "205599 Walkowicz (2001 TE243)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  4. Scoles, Sarah (March 23, 2017). "Astronomers Don't Point This Telescope—The Telescope Points Them". Wired. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  5. "Lucianne Walkowicz". The White House Frontiers Conference. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  6. Kahn, Steven M. "The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope" (PDF). Future and Science of the Gemini Observatory Meeting. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  7. "Lucianne Walkowicz". TED. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  8. "Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology | The John W. Kluge Center - Library of Congress". www.loc.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  9. "NASA Astrobiology". astrobiology.nasa.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  10. "Daily Exchange - Posting". www.exchangemagazine.com. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  11. Walkowicz, Lucianne. "Why I'm Resigning from Advising NASA". Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  12. Witze, Alexandra (October 1, 2021). "NASA won't rename James Webb telescope — and astronomers are angry - The agency found no evidence that the flagship observatory's namesake was involved in anti-LGBT+ activities, but some say that Webb bears responsibility". Nature. 598 (7880): 249. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02678-1. PMID 34599318. S2CID 238251014. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  13. "Lucianne Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold". LIDJI. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  14. "JustSpace Alliance". Just Space Alliance. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  15. "Lucianne Walkowicz". IMDb. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  16. "Lucianne Walkowicz". IMDb. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  17. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  18. "American Girl sued for trademark violation by astronomer". Associated Press. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  19. "Adler astronomer files trademark lawsuit against American Girl". Chicago Sun-Times. Associated Press. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  20. Shadel, J. D. (July 9, 2020). "This Nonbinary Astronomer Alleges American Girl Stole Their Identity for a Doll". them. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  21. Lucianne, Walkowicz. "Dr. Lucianne Walkowicz (@RocketToLulu)". Twitter. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
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