Suntzeff Elected As 2023 American Astronomical Society Fellow
Nicholas B. Suntzeff, University Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University, has been elected as a 2023 Fellow of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the major organization of professional astronomers, astronomy educators and amateur astronomers in North America.
The AAS Fellows Program was created in 2019 to recognize original research and publications, innovative contributions to astronomical techniques or instrumentation, significant contributions to education and public outreach, and noteworthy service to astronomy and the Society itself.
Suntzeff, an observational astronomer specializing in cosmology, supernovae, stellar populations and astronomical instrumentation, is one of 22 AAS members honored in 2023 for enhancing and sharing humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe through personal achievement and extraordinary service to the astronomical sciences and to the AAS. Each will receive a certificate and a lapel pin.
“It is a joy to celebrate the dedication and accomplishments of these extraordinary members of our community,” said AAS President Kelsey Johnson, a professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Virginia. “We are so fortunate to have colleagues and role models who have invested so deeply in moving astrophysics forward.”
Suntzeff is cited “for his transformational leadership in the foundation of supernova cosmology, the discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe, and precision measurements of the Hubble–Lemaître flow; for his service to the national and international astronomical communities; for considerable efforts on behalf of human rights, especially the LGBTQ community, both within astronomy and globally; and for establishing the astronomy program at Texas A&M University.”
Suntzeff joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2006 as director of the Texas A&M astronomy program and the inaugural holder of the Mitchell-Heep-Munnerlyn Chair in Observational Astronomy. A member of the George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, he was appointed in 2013 as a university distinguished professor, the highest level of achievement for faculty recognized as pre-eminent authorities in their fields. In 2017, he was named a Regents Professor by The Texas A&M University System, a perpetual title celebrating employees who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the people of Texas.
This story source was originally published by Texas A&M Arts & Sciences.