Dr. Ian P. Griffin is the British CEO of Science Oxford

Science Oxford

Science Oxford is a charitable organisation based in Oxford, England. Science Oxfords mission is: To encourage the pursuit of science and enterprise, with the long term vision of: Making connections between science, enterprise and society.Science Oxford was founded in 1985 as The Oxford Trust by...

, in Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

, UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. He is the former head of public outreach at NASA

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

's 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...

. Griffin is a professional astronomer and public spokesman upon scientific matters.

Biographical information

Griffin began his professional life at University College London

University College London

University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...

 where he decided to pursue a career combining both astronomical research and public outreach. He was director of the Armagh Planetarium

Armagh Planetarium

Armagh Planetarium is a planetarium located in Armagh, Northern Ireland close to the city centre and neighbouring Armagh Observatory in approximately fourteen acres of landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark.- History :...

 from 1990 to 1995. He then worked at Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory

Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory

The Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory, or AMPO, also known as the Brevard Community College Planetarium and Observatory, is an astronomical observatory and planetarium at Brevard Community College in Cocoa, Florida...

 at Brevard Community College

Brevard Community College

Brevard Community College, founded in 1960, is a community college on Florida's Space Coast, in Brevard County, Florida. It has four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as an Aerospace program at Kennedy Space Center and a Virtual Campus...

 in Cocoa, Florida

Cocoa, Florida

Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 16,412 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 16,478. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Cocoa was...

 and Auckland Observatory in New Zealand before accepting the position as head of public outreach 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...

 in Baltimore, US.

From 2004 to 2007 Griffin was director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, England, is a large museum devoted to the development of science, technology, and industry with emphasis on the city's achievements in these fields...

.

Significant achievements

In his time at Space Telescope, Griffin contributed to the observation and study of a scientifically significant binary asteroid system, known as 1998 WW31

1998 WW31

' is a double Kuiper belt object. It was discovered in 1998 by the Deep Ecliptic Survey . forms a binary system with another object with the IAU provisional designation : the first trans-Neptunian binary to be discovered since Pluto, and one of the most symmetrical binaries known in the Solar System...

. This was only the second such binary system discovered in the Kuiper Belt

Kuiper belt

The Kuiper belt , sometimes called the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt, is a region of the Solar System beyond the planets extending from the orbit of Neptune to approximately 50 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, although it is far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive...

 (the other being the Pluto

Pluto

Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...

 and Charon

Charon (moon)

Charon is the largest satellite of the dwarf planet Pluto. It was discovered in 1978 at the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. Following the 2005 discovery of two other natural satellites of Pluto , Charon may also be referred to as Pluto I...

 system) and provided valuable data helping astronomers understand the mass and behaviour of objects in the Kuiper Belt.
Griffin also discovered (via search programmes using small telescopes) and had the privilege of naming of a number of main belt asteroids including 10924 (Mariagriffin), 23990 (Springsteen) and 33179 (Arsenewenger

33179 Arsenewenger

33179 Arsènewenger is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1544.2942189 days . The asteroid was discovered on March 29, 1998 by Ian P. Griffin, who is a fan of Arsenal Football Club. The asteroid was named after the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, and is believed to be the only asteroid...

, named after the Arsène Wenger

Arsène Wenger

Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...

, the manager of Griffin's favorite football team, Arsenal

Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

).