Speakers

Dr. John S. Mulchaey is Director and Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair at the Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena’s oldest scientific establishment and a world leader in research on the evolution of the universe.  In addition, Dr. Mulchaey is Science Deputy of the Observatories’ parent organization, The Carnegie Institution for Science, where he oversees scientific developments throughout the Institution’s six departments which span the physical and biological disciplines.

Mulchaey earned his B.S. in Astrophysics from UC Berkeley, and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Maryland.  He was a Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellow before joining the Observatories as a staff scientist in 1999, and served as Associate Director for Academic Affairs before being named The Observatories’ 11^th Director in 2015. Today, Mulchaey oversees Carnegie’s main campus in Pasadena as well as The Observatories’ large-telescopes facility in Las Campanas, Chile.  He is also on the Board for the Giant Magellan Telescope, a next-generation telescope being designed in Pasadena.  

 

Dr. Mulchaey’s research focuses on many key areas in astronomy, including dark matter and black holes. In 1993, he led the team that discovered large amounts of dark matter in the local universe, a discovery that received front-page coverage in The New York Times and a feature in Time magazine.  In 2016, he appeared in the press as part of the team following a mysterious fast radio burst for the first time.  He is also a frequent consultant to NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Mulchaey also leads numerous Carnegie outreach and educational activities throughout Los Angeles and beyond. He created the annual Carnegie Observatories Astronomy Lectures, a popular series held each spring at The Huntington Library.  He hosts astronomy nights at many schools; secured funding for the creation of science rooms at three local elementary schools; and founded a program for gifted high school science students.  In 2020 he received the Helios Award, part of the international Rotary Humanitarian STAR Awards program, for his achievements in scientific education.

 

As many of you know, our club sponsors students in multiple categories to the Annual Rotary District 5280 Pageant of the Arts competition, which just took place on Saturaday (4/17/2021). We are always proud of all the talented youth that our club sponors each year to the District Competition. A few of these wonderful students from the most recent Pageant of the Arts (Sponsored by PVS) will be visiting us on Wednesday 4/28/2021 during our morning club meeting. Please come and learn more about them, and show them your support. Thank you!      

Please join us for a great meeting with Christina Davis, the CEO of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce. Christina will be provide us with a community update, including some challenges as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic this past year, and some positve signs of recovery. This is always a super fun and informative meeting. You won't want to miss this program! 

https://laxcoastal.com/