Candidate Statement: Roger D. Blandford

roger_blandford.jpg

Nominated Office: President

Affiliation: Stanford University

Position/title: Luke Blossom Professor, Stanford University

PhD institution: Cambridge University 1973 (awarded 1974)

Areas of scientific interest:

  • Cosmology
  • Relativity

AAS positions:

  •     AAS: Councilor (1999-2002)
  •     HEAD: Committee (1982-1984), Vice Chair (2002-2004), Chair (2004-2006)
  •     Warner-Pierce Prize Committee (1999-2000)
  •     Dannie Heineman Prize Committee (2002-2003)
  •     Henry Norris Russell Prize Committee (2004-2005)
  •     Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (2002-2006)

Other relevant positions and experience:

  • NASA: Space Science Advisory Committee (1996-1999); Structure and Evolution of the Universe SubCommittee Chair (1996-1999)
  • NRC: Space Studies Board (1986-1989,2002-2006); Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics Co-chair (2002-06); Committee on Physics of the Universe (2000-2002)
  • Astronomy Survey Committee: Theory Panel (1981); UVO from space, science opportunities Panel (1991); High Energy Astrophysics from Space Panel Chair (1999-2000); Chair (2008-2010)
  • NSF: ACAST (1982-1984); Chair (1985); MPS Advisory Committee (2001-2004)4; NSF Astronomy Senior Review Chair (2005-2006)
  • ARAA: Associate Editor (2002-2004); Editor (2005-2010)

Candidate Statement: Scientifically, astronomy is as exciting as ever and remarkable discoveries and measurements are a source of pride to AAS members and the public. The opportunities for the future are unlimited. I am honored to be asked to stand for election as your President. I believe that we have been very well represented in the past by the AAS and, if chosen, I will do my best to consolidate the initiatives of recent years including communicating the value of astronomy and other basic sciences as societal investments which should be better supported and enabling the planning and hard choices needed to use our human, financial and facility resources optimally. As so much of our future will unfold in a global context, I would also like to forge stronger relationships with professional societies around the world to create an environment where successful and economical collaborations can flourish. Another goal would be to create a more stable and better-defined care er structure for the impressive students who enter our field. This would include linking with the many growing fields beyond astronomy where an astronomical background is of great value and developing new ways to continue to engage those who follow these paths.