Sandra M. Faber
Encyclopedia
Sandra Moore Faber is a University Professor
of Astronomy
and Astrophysics
at the University of California, Santa Cruz
, and works at the Lick Observatory
.
In 1966, she obtained a B.A.
, with high honors, in physics
from Swarthmore College
.
In 1972 she received her Ph.D.
in Astronomy from Harvard University
,
She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 1985 and the American Philosophical Society
on 29 April 2001.
Faber was the head of a team (known as the Seven Samurai) that discovered a mass concentration called "The Great Attractor
". She was also the Principal Investigator the Nuker Team
, which used the Hubble Space Telescope
to search for supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. Faber was deeply involved in the initial use of Hubble as a member of the WFPC-1
camera team, and was responsible for diagnosing the spherical aberration in the Hubble primary.
Faber says, "I hope that you take time to contemplate the implications of what you are studying. This is one of the rare opportunities to think about where the human race is going." Indeed, on the importance of astronomical knowledge, Faber states that "it's astronomy that puts us in perspective; it tells us where we come from, and cosmically, where we're going."
At UCSC she focuses her research on the evolution of structure in the universe and the evolution and formation of galaxies. In addition to this, she led the development of the DEIMOS instrument on the Keck telescopes to obtain spectra of cosmologically distant galaxies.
Faber received the Heineman Prize
in 1985 and the Harvard Centennial Medal
in 2006.
Faber's most recent recognition comes from The Franklin Institute
in Philadelphia. Sandra M. Faber received the 2009 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science from The Franklin Institute
for three decades of research on the formation and evolution of galaxies, and for her altruistic dedication to building new tools for the astronomy community. Her research revolutionized the way cosmologists understand and model the universe.
Sandra Faber is co-Editor of the Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
University Professorship (University of California)
The title of University Professor at the University of California is "reserved for scholars of international distinction who are recognized and respected as teachers of exceptional ability". Unlike Distinguished Professorships which are campus specific, recommendations for University...
of Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
at the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
, and works at the Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory
The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...
.
In 1966, she obtained a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, with high honors, 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...
from Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
.
In 1972 she received her Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Astronomy from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
,
She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1985 and the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
on 29 April 2001.
Faber was the head of a team (known as the Seven Samurai) that discovered a mass concentration called "The Great Attractor
Great Attractor
The Great Attractor is a gravity anomaly in intergalactic space within the range of the Centaurus Supercluster that reveals the existence of a localised concentration of mass equivalent to tens of thousands of Milky Ways, observable by its effect on the motion of galaxies and their associated...
". She was also the Principal Investigator the Nuker Team
Nuker Team
The Nuker Team was organized in 1985 to use the Hubble Space Telescope, with its high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, to investigate the central structure and dynamics of galaxies. The team uses the space telescope to examine supermassive black holes and determined the relationship between a...
, which used the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
to search for supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. Faber was deeply involved in the initial use of Hubble as a member of the WFPC-1
Wide Field and Planetary Camera
The Wide Field/Planetary Camera was a camera installed on the Hubble Space Telescope until December 1993. It was one of the instruments on Hubble at launch, but its functionality was severely impaired by the defects of the main mirror optics which afflicted the telescope...
camera team, and was responsible for diagnosing the spherical aberration in the Hubble primary.
Faber says, "I hope that you take time to contemplate the implications of what you are studying. This is one of the rare opportunities to think about where the human race is going." Indeed, on the importance of astronomical knowledge, Faber states that "it's astronomy that puts us in perspective; it tells us where we come from, and cosmically, where we're going."
At UCSC she focuses her research on the evolution of structure in the universe and the evolution and formation of galaxies. In addition to this, she led the development of the DEIMOS instrument on the Keck telescopes to obtain spectra of cosmologically distant galaxies.
Faber received the Heineman Prize
Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
The Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics is jointly awarded each year by the American Astronomical Society and American Institute of Physics for outstanding work in astrophysics. It is funded by the Heineman Foundation in honour of Dannie Heineman....
in 1985 and the Harvard Centennial Medal
Harvard Centennial Medal
The Harvard Centennial Medal is an honor given by the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to recipients of graduate degrees from the School for their "contributions to society."...
in 2006.
Faber's most recent recognition comes from The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
in Philadelphia. Sandra M. Faber received the 2009 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science from The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
for three decades of research on the formation and evolution of galaxies, and for her altruistic dedication to building new tools for the astronomy community. Her research revolutionized the way cosmologists understand and model the universe.
Sandra Faber is co-Editor of the Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.