Heidi Hammel - Recognition and Public Outreach

Recognition and Public Outreach

Hammel has been awarded prizes both for her research (including the 1996 Harold C. Urey Prize of the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences) and for her public outreach (such as the Exploratorium's 1998 Public Understanding of Science Award). Hammel was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2000. She has also been lauded for her work in public outreach, including the 2002 Carl Sagan Medal for outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public; the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's 1995 Klumpke-Roberts Award for public understanding and appreciation of astronomy; the 1996 "Spirit of American Women" National Award for encouraging young women to follow non-traditional career paths, and the San Francisco Exploratorium's 1998 Public Understanding of Science Award.

In acknowledgment of her many achievements, Discover Magazine recognized Hammel in 2003 as one of the 50 most important women in science. She was profiled by Newsweek Magazine in 2007 and in the New York Times in 2008. Her biography “Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel” has been published by the United States National Academy of Sciences as part of the series “Women’s Adventures in Science.”

Hammel joined The Planetary Society's Board of Directors in 2005. On May 7, 2009 the Women's Board of the Adler Planetarium awarded Hammel with the 2009 Women in Space Science Award.

In June 2010, Hammel participated in the World Science Festival held in New York City, (June 2–6, 2010), along with other celebrities: Alan Alda, Michael York, (the actor), Oliver Sacks and James D. Watson. On Friday, June 4, 2010, Hammel joined professional and amateur astronomers at the base of the full-scale, tennis court-sized James Webb Space Telescope model for a free evening of star-gazing in Battery Park, New York City. Hammel talked about the discoveries anticipated in 2014 with the launching of the James Webb Space Telescope, which will be the world's most powerful space telescope, being the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. She was joined by Dr. John C. Mather, Nobel laureate and the Webb telescope's senior project scientist; Dr. John Grunsfeld, astronaut, physicist and "chief repairman" of the Hubble Telescope.

On November 2, 2010 The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy announced the appointment of Dr. Heidi B. Hammel to the position of Executive Vice President. Hammel began her appointment on January 1, 2011. As Executive Vice President Hammel will serve as the Deputy to the President and will bring her unique expertise and background to AURA. In accepting this appointment, Hammel said "The United States astronomical community stands at an interesting juncture with many possible paths ahead of us. I look forward to working with AURA as we confront these challenges. Our shared goal is a rich future for astronomy and astrophysics, giving the next generation of scientists new opportunities to explore the universe."

On November 16, 2010, Hammel was profiled in the Oprah Winfrey Magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine, article titled: The Key to Fulfillment. The article states that Hammel is "developing a telescope to glimpse far-off galaxies, but sometimes it's just heading to the office that gives her chills. During a drive to Hawaii's Mauna Kea Observatory one night, she reached the summit and saw the Milky Way. Her voice cracks with emotion as she remembers. 'I pulled over and sat there with my mouth open, thinking, What an incredible universe'".

The asteroid 3530 Hammel was named in her honor.