Candidate Statement: David R. Soderblom

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Nominated Office: USNC-IAU

Affiliation: Space Telescope Science Institute

Position/title: Astronomer

PhD institution: University of California Santa Cruz (1980)

Areas of scientific interest:

  • The life history of the Sun as told by the stars
  • Ages of stars
  • Evolutionary properties of solar-type stars
  • Habitable Zones around solar-type stars
  • Applying stellar ages to Galactic studies

AAS positions: 

  • Chretien Award Committee (2012-2013)
  • Rodger Doxsey Prize Judge (2011-2012)
  • Chambliss Award Judge (2008)

Other relevant positions and experience:

  • Elected member, IAU Division G (Stars) Steering Committee (2013-present)
  • Vice president, IAU Commission 29 (Stellar Spectroscopy) (2012-present)
  • Organizing Committee member, IAU Commission 29 (2009-present)
  • SOC Chair and organizer, IAU Symposium 258, “The Ages of Stars,” Baltimore (2008)
  • SOC Chair, Special Session 13,”High-precision astrophysics from high-precision photometry,” IAU General Assembly, Beijing (2012)
  • Young astronomer mentor, IAU General Assembles (2009, 2012)
  • Originator and organizer, STScI Summer Student Program (1993-2008), (>200 students from >30 countries, 50/50 men/women)

Candidate Statement:  Astronomy is international and I want to help make it more so because that strengthens our science and gives us the opportunity to engage with colleagues everywhere. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) exists to help make those engagements happen, and it has been a pleasure to lead and participate in many of those productive activities.

Just as important, astronomers increasingly cross borders as they seek opportunities, and it is vital for the IAU to support that and to involve more of the youngest astronomers in what they do. I have helped to make that happen by running an international summer student program for 16 years that brought in 200+ undergraduates from 30+ countries; many of the men and women have continued to graduate school and professional positions both here and abroad.

The most significant recent initiative of the IAU is its Office for Astronomy Development (OAD), established to use astronomy as a tool to further formal and informal education and awareness of science around the world. The US has an important role to play in that enterprise, one I wish to see go further.