Profile
Combining her skills as a journalist with an advanced degree in physics, Marcia Bartusiak (pronounced Mar-sha Bar-too'-shack) has been covering the fields of astronomy and physics for three decades. The author of five books, she is currently Professor of the Practice and Executive Director of the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Bartusiak is the author of Thursday's Universe, a layman's guide to the frontiers of astrophysics and cosmology, Through a Universe Darkly, a history of astronomers' centuries-long quest to discover the universe's composition, and Einstein's Unfinished Symphony, about the on-going attempt to detect gravity waves, the last experimental test of Einstein's theory of general relativity. All three were named notable science books by The New York Times. She also co-authored A Positron Named Priscilla, a National Academy of Sciences book on cutting-edge science. Her latest books are The Day We Found the Universe, a narrative saga of the birth of modern cosmology and the 2010 winner of the History of Science Society's Davis Prize, and Archives of the Universe, a history of the major discoveries in astronomy told through 100 of the original scientific publications. She was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has twice won the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Prize, and also received the AIP's prestigious Gemant Award for "significant contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic dimension of physics." Graduating in 1971 with a degree in communications from American University in Washington, D.C., Bartusiak first spent four years as a TV reporter and anchorwoman in Norfolk, Virginia. Assignments at the nearby NASA Langley Research Center sparked a love for science news, which encouraged her to enter Old Dominion University for a master's degree in physics. Her research involved the effects of radiation on materials sent into space as parts of orbiting astronomical observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Ultraviolet Explorer. Starting her science-writing career as an intern at Science News and then as a charter member of Discover's writing staff, she continues to write about astronomy and physics in a variety of national publications and writes a column, titled "Cosmic Background," for Natural History magazine. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, Science, Popular Science, World Book Encyclopedia, Smithsonian, andTechnology Review. For many years a contributing editor at Discover, she is now on the editorial advisory board of Astronomy magazine. She has also reviewed science books for both The New York Times and The Washington Post. Bartusiak lives with her husband, mathematician Steve Lowe, and their dog Hubble in Sudbury, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Awards and Honors 2010 The Day We Found the Universe awarded the History of Science Society's Davis Prize for best history-of-science book for a general audience 2010 Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the science category for The Day We Found the Universe 2010 Klumpke-Roberts Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 2008 Elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for “exceptionally clear communication of the rich history, the intricate nature, and the modern practice of astronomy to the public at large” 2008 MIT Infinite Mile Award for Outstanding Service and Innovative Teaching 2006 American Institute of Physics Gemant Award for "significant contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic dimension of physics" 2001 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony 2000 New York Times Notable Book for Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony 2000 Washington Post Book World Rave for Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony 2000 Library Journal “Best Science-Technology Book 2000” for Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony 1994 MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellow 1993 New York Times Notable Book for Through a Universe Darkly 1987 Finalist, NASA Journalist-in-Space competition 1986 An Astronomy Book of the Year, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, for Thursday’s Universe 1986 New York Times Notable Book for Thursday’s Universe 1982 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for “The Ultimate Timepiece,” Discover magazine 1979 University Fellow, Boston University 1979 Elected to Sigma Xi Honor Society for Scientific Research |
