Marcia Bartusiak
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  Marcia Bartusiak

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Photo by B. D. Colen
 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 four decades. The author of seven books, she is Professor of the Practice Emeritus in the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her latest books are Dispatches from Planet 3, an essay collection for the armchair astronomer, a revised edition of Einstein's Unfinished Symphony, her award-winning history of gravitational-wave astronomy and its first detections, and Black Hole: How an Idea Abandoned by Newtonians, Hated by Einstein, and Gambled on by Hawking Became Loved. 

Bartusiak is also the author of Thursday's Universe, a layman's guide to the frontiers of astrophysics and cosmology, and Through a Universe Darkly, a history of astronomers' centuries-long quest to discover the universe's composition. Both were named notable science books by The New York Times. More recently published 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 won the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Prize three times, 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 optical 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. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Astronomy, Science, Popular Science, Sky & Telescope, World Book Encyclopedia, Smithsonian, and Technology Review. For many years a contributing editor at Discover, she is now on the editorial advisory board of Astronomy magazine. She also reviews science books for The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. Bartusiak lives with her husband, mathematician Steve Lowe, in Sudbury, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.  


Awards and Honors

2022   Sigma Xi Scientific Society Distinguished Lectureship, 2022-23

2019   American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for Dispatches from Planet 3

2019   Dispatches from Planet 3, Outstanding Academic Title, American Library Association

2019   Novim Award for communicating complex science topics in innovative and engaging ways

2017   Einstein's Unfinished Symphony included on 2017 Best Book List by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

2016   Black Hole, finalist for the Phi Beta Kappa Science Writing Prize

2015   American Publishers Prose Award, Honorable Mention in the Cosmology & Astronomy category for Black Hole

2015   Black Hole longlisted for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award

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 

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