Chaisson, Eric J.

Last name:  Chaisson
Name:  Eric
Second Name:  J.

Wright Center and Physics Dept., Tufts University, USA

Harvard College Observatory, Harvard University, USA

Dr. Eric J. Chaisson is Director of the Wright Center for Innovative Science Education at Tufts University, where he is also Research Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Research Professor of Education. He is also an Associate of the Harvard College Observatory and serves with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. Trained initially in atomic physics, Chaisson obtained his doctorate in astrophysics from Harvard University. During his tenure as Associate Professor at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, his research focused largely on the radio astronomical study of interstellar gas clouds. This work won him fellowships from the National Academy of Sciences and the Sloan Foundation, as well as Harvard's B. J. Bok Prize for original contributions to astrophysics and Harvard's Smith-Weld Prize for literary merit. Previous to his current positions, he spent several years at the (Hubble) Space Telescope Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He has written nearly 200 publications, most of them in the professional journals, and has authored or coauthored 12 books. Chaisson's major research interests are currently twofold: His scientific research addresses an interdisciplinary, thermodynamic study of physical and biological phenomena, thereby seeking the origin, evolution, and unification of galaxies, stars, planets, and life in the Universe. His educational research engages experienced teachers and computer animators to create better methods, technological aids, and novel curricula to enthuse teachers and instruct students in all aspects of natural science. He teaches an annual undergraduate course at Harvard University on the subject of cosmic evolution, which combines both of these research and educational goals. Chaisson holds membership in many American and international scientific organizations, several honor societies, and dozens of academic, public, and federal advisory committees. For more information, consult: http://www.tufts.edu/as/wright_center/eric/ericpage.html.