Department of Astronomy
and Steward Observatory

We are pleased to annouce that our 17th Marc Aaronson Memorial Lectureship has been awarded to Dr. Alice Shapley of UCLA. She will give a Steward/NOAO colloquium on Thursday, February 27, 2014, at 4:00pm, and the Aaronson Public Lecture on Friday February 28, at 7:30pm. She will be feted by Marianne Kun (Aaronson) and Marc’s daughter Jaimie on March 1.

The Aaronson committee has commended Dr. Alice Shapley "for her contributions to the study of how galaxies form in the early universe.  Through her pioneering observations with large ground- and space-based facilities, Alice has transformed our understanding of the stellar populations, chemical abundances, kinematics, and feedback processes of galaxies at high redshift."

In order to create a fitting tribute to the memory of Marc Aaronson, his family, friends, and colleagues have established and privately endowed the Marc Aaronson Memorial Lectureship to promote and recognize excellence in astronomical research. The Lectureship and cash prize are awarded every eighteen months to an individual or group who, by his or her passion for research and dedication to excellence, has produced a body of work in observational astronomy which has resulted in a significant deepening of our understanding of the universe. Any living scientist is eligible for this award without consideration of race, sex, or nationality, although prime consideration is given to someone within 15 years of their Doctorate. Marc was 10 years past his doctorate when he died at age 36.