I am an astronomer, astrobiologist, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. My research focuses on exploring the climate and habitability of small planets in the Earth-sized regime orbiting low-mass stars, using a hierarchy of computer models, in concert with data from NASA’s Kepler mission, along with other space- and ground-based observatories.
I’m also a classically-trained Actor, and use my theater background to communicate science to the public in engaging, innovative ways. I was named a 2015 TED Fellow, which is an exciting honor. And I am the 2016 recipient of the Origins Project Postdoctoral Award Lectureship.
Visit my research website here.
For more about me, read a profile on the TED blog here.
variablestargirl 
I already feel smarter. I’m not smarter, but I feel smarter.
LikeLike
Thank you. Happy to offer inspiration wherever I can!
LikeLike
Wow! Very inspiring! I have a 14 year old daughter who is very interested in studying astrophysics but is also passionate about music. By the looks of your resume, you can do it all! As her mother, I have been researching schools that would allow her to major in one and minor in the other. Do you have any advise? Congratulations to you! Have you done your TED Talk yet?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted this as a separate comment long ago:
Hi Susie,
Your daughter sounds very talented! I had a wonderful experience at Phillips Exeter Academy, which has an incredible science and music program. It is a private school, but they are committed to making sure that every child accepted can attend. If you are rather thinking more down the line to colleges, US News and World Report usually posts rankings annually of universities in different academic departments. I’d say choosing a range of schools that offer strong music and astronomy/astrophysics programs is a good approach. Your daughter’s college counselor will no doubt be very helpful in this regard. Strong liberal arts schools are also great because she’d get a solid foundation in both most likely. I wish her all the best!!
LikeLike
Hi Susie,
Your daughter sounds very talented! I had a wonderful experience at Phillips Exeter Academy, which has an incredible science and music program. It is a private school, but they are committed to making sure that every child accepted can attend. If you are rather thinking more down the line to colleges, US News and World Report usually posts rankings annually of universities in different academic departments. I’d say choosing a range of schools that offer strong music and astronomy/astrophysics programs is a good approach. Your daughter’s college counselor will no doubt be very helpful in this regard. Strong liberal arts schools are also great because she’d get a solid foundation in both most likely. I wish her all the best!!
LikeLike
Pingback: A picture that rendered me speechless, snapped at TED2015 | Spiritual Conversations With Sol
Pingback: A picture that rendered me speechless, snapped at TED2015 | BizBox B2B Social Site
Pingback: A picture that rendered me speechless, snapped at TED2015 | Lifespace connect
Hello,
Glad that I decided to learn more about the creator of the awesome chart. I have been thinking a lot about planets and the remote possibility of any having the required attributes that can support humans. I decided that it might be as few as 1 out of a billion planets. Maybe 1 out of a billion planets in the right zone that could provide the right temperature.
Even at these odds there could be trillions of planets that humans could habitat.
I hope to check your site on a regular basis. A lot to read.
I am also into Buddhism.
LikeLiked by 1 person