has also been instrumental in conveying the science goals and results generated by these projects .
In addition , Schwamb is being honored in part for her efforts with Astronomy on Tap and the recurring Twitter account Astrotweeps : Astronomy on Tap — a series of popular talks given by astronomers in bars and pubs — brings the latest planetary science and astronomy news and results directly to the public in a fun and relaxing environment ; Astrotweeps hosts a different astronomer or planetary scientist each week , highlighting their research and life as a scientist . Schwamb helped create and organize the original Astronomy on Tap events in New York City and is the co-creator of Astrotweeps . ( See page 92 for information on an Astronomy on Tap program Meg initiated in Hilo , Hawai ‘ i .)
Heidi Hammel , Vice President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy ( AURA ), and herself a winner of the Sagan Medal in 2002 , notes , “ it is an exceptional honor for Meg to be recognized so early in her career for her work in astronomy outreach .” The sentiment is shared by Henry Roe , Deputy Director of Gemini Observatory , who adds that this award is only the beginning for Meg .
Schwamb earned her PhD in Planetary Science from the California Institute of Technology in 2011 . She was a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at Yale University and an Academia Sinica postdoctoral fellow at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics . Currently Schwamb is an assistant scientist at the Gemini Observatory at the Gemini North telescope in Hawai ‘ i , where her research focuses on the small body populations residing in our Solar System and mining large datasets for Solar System science .
January 2018 / 2017 Year in Review GeminiFocus
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