Aomawa shields biography definition

American associate professor of physics and astronomy

Aomawa L. Shields is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at UC Irvine. Her research is focused on exploring the climate and habitability of small exoplanets, using data from observatories including NASA'sKepler space telescope.^[1] Shields was a 2015 TED Fellow, and is active in science communication and outreach.

Aomawa Shields, PhD | Who I Am

She develops interactive workshops to encourage self-esteem and teach about astronomy, combines her training in theater and her career in astronomy.

Early life and education

Shields describes watching the movie Space Camp at age 12 as sparking the question "Are We Alone?"^[2] Shields attended Phillips Exeter Academy, graduating in 1993.

As a student there, she and others interested in physics often rose early in the morning to look at Jupiter's moons.^[3] From Exeter, Shields attended MIT, gaining a degree in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.^{&# An Astrobiologist’s Search for Life in Space—and Meaning on ... SIXA}