Candidate Statement: Christine Jones

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Nominated Office: President

Affiliation: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Position/title: Senior Astrophysicist and Lecturer on Astronomy

PhD institution: Harvard University, 1974

Areas of scientific interest:
Understanding the formation of clusters of galaxies and large scale structure and the impacts of supermassive black holes on the evolution of galaxies. Earlier research included studies of stellar binary systems and analysis of meteorites and lunar samples.

AAS positions:
  • AAS Vice-President (2008-2011)
  • AAS Councilor (1989-1992)
  • Harlow Shapley Lecturer (1990-present)
  • Dannie Heineman Prize Committee (2000-2002, Chair 2002)
  • Search committee for new AAS Executive Officer (1994-1995)
  • Executive Committee, AAS-High Energy Astrophysics Division (1987-1989, 1999-2001)
  • Secretary-Treasurer, AAS-High Energy Astrophysics Division (2004-2007)
  • AAS Small Research Grants Committee (1992)
  • AAS liaison to the AAAS (1992-1994)

Other relevant positions and experience:

  • Director, Grand Challenges Consortium for Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe, Smithsonian Institution (2010-2014)
  • International Astronomical Union (IAU) Division XI Space and High Energy Astrophysics (Deputy, 2006-2009, President 2009-2012)
  • Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) Board of Directors 2012-2015; Chair, ASP Publications Committee (2014-2015)
  • Co-Director and NSF Grant PI for SAO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program (1994-present)
  • Space Telescope Science Institute Visiting Committee (2001-2004)
  • NASA Senior Review for on-going missions (1998)
  • NASA Structure and Evolution of the Universe Subcommittee (1996-1999)
  • NASA proposal review panels, including HST, Spitzer Legacy, Astrophysics Data Program, and X-ray missions (1988-present)
  • NSF proposal review panels (for research, Graduate Student Fellowships, REU programs, Post-doctoral Fellowships) (2001-present)
  • DOE Dark Energy proposals review panel (2008)
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (1995)
  • Honorary Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society (2011-present)

Candidate Statement: As a first-year graduate student, I attended my first AAS meeting in East Lansing, Michigan. I gave a talk, shared a dorm room, and talked with Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin at breakfast — what an experience! Today our meetings still wow participants and our journals are the best in the field. We continue to educate and inspire students, the public, government officials, and each other. These are truly exciting times, from discoveries of new exoplanets to advances in cosmology.

However we face challenges, particularly related to employment and public funding for future observatories, and, especially for new faculty, there is also the challenge of balancing teaching and research time. Talking with colleagues, I’ve heard excellent suggestions for new AAS initiatives to address these and other concerns. For example, one already underway, would establish an AAS Alumni Board of astronomers who are successful in non-traditional areas, to advise astronomers about alternative career paths. Second, since funding large observatories likely requires international partnerships, AAS Special Sessions could provide a platform for presentations and discussions of future projects. And third, the AAS could assist faculty by extending the AAS “Resources for Educators” to include a teaching network to share course materials and experiences. As President, I would work to implement these and other initiatives that address the needs of our members and our Society.

I served as AAS Vice-President when John Huchra and Debbie Elmegreen were Presidents, so I know this job isn’t easy. The strength of the AAS is its members and together, we can chart innovative paths for our Society that will ensure a bright future, hopefully with clear, dark skies!