Available Now: George B. Field's Henry Norris Russell Lecture
Richard Fienberg AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force
The AAS Henry Norris Russell Lectureship is awarded annually for a lifetime of eminence in astronomical research. In 2014 the Russell Lectureship went to George B. Field "for a lifetime of contributions to our basic understanding of diffuse plasmas in the universe, which continue to motivate current astronomers. As the founding director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, he created a significant institution to advance astronomy. His visionary leadership of the 1980 decadal survey in astronomy and astrophysics remains a landmark in science policy that brought powerful new instrumental capabilities to the astronomical community."
George gave his Henry Norris Russell Lecture, "A Historical and Scientific Perspective on Harvard College Observatory and the Center for Astrophysics," via a recorded video presentation at the 225th AAS meeting in Seattle, Washington, in January 2015. When we learned that George would not be able to join us in Seattle to present his lecture in person, AAS Executive Officer Kevin Marvel traveled to the Virgin Islands, where George now lives, to present his prize certificate and check, and to videotape George's presentation.
By special arrangement with the CfA, we are making George's Russell Lecture publicly available now, rather than putting it exclusively on our members-only site for six months, as is our usual practice. The video begins with an introduction by AAS President C. Megan Urry of Yale University, recorded in Seattle on 8 January 2015.