Dr. Sarah Rugheimer
Astrophysicist
Astrobiologist
Faculty at University of Edinburgh
B.Sc., Physics, University of Calgary
M.A., Astrophysics, Harvard University
Ph.D., Astrophysics, Harvard University
Simons Fellowship, Origins of Life, University of St. Andrews
Glasstone Fellowship, Hugh Price Fellow (Jesus College), Oxford University
Associate Professor, Carswell Chair, York University
Reader (Assoc Prof), Chancellor's Fellow, University of Edinburgh
Learn More
Overview
I am new faculty member at the University of Edinburgh in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Formerly, I was an Associate Professor in Canada, holding the Allan I. Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy at York University in Toronto. My research interests are modeling the atmosphere and climate of extrasolar planets with a particular focus on atmospheric biosignatures in Earth-like planets.
I also love engaging with the public on astrophysics and astrobiology. I've been on TV and radio over 100 times and was a presenter on the Discovery Channel science series "Killers of the Cosmos." I've written for New Scientist, the Great Courses, and Amazon Audible Originals. Read more about my public outreach here.
Broadly, I am interested in anything related to the field of Astrobiology: the study of the origin of life on Earth and the pursuit of detecting life on other planets/moons in the Universe. Currently we are just now finding planets that are Earth-sized and temperate for the first time in history. In the next two decades, first with James Webb Space Telescope and later with follow-up missions like LUVOIR/HabEx, we will be able to detect the atmospheres of terrestrial extrasolar planets in the habitable zone (HZ). These questions of our origins and the distribution of life in the Universe are the main driving inspiration for my day to day work. Read more here
Teaching is a particular passion of mine, instilled in me from a young age by my father, Mac Rugheimer, who devoted his life to teaching physics. I taught a course of my own design as a visiting lecturer at Tufts University ExCollege in Fall of 2013 called Life on Earth and Beyond. I have also taken many teaching methodology courses to improve my ability to communicate science and my public speaking skills. Read more here
Despite many peer-reviewed studies showing persistent gender and racial bias to this day, many people are either unaware of the depth of this persistent bias. I grew up thinking that the battle already fought successfully decades past. Identical resumes with different gendered or racial names receive significantly different salaries, competance ratings and hireability ranking. I've created this page as a repository of information for research articles, blogs and useful references for those interested in learning about the challenges facing white women and men and women of color in science. Click here for resource page
Contact
s.rugheimer (at) ed.ac.uk
University of Edinburgh, Institute for Astronomy
Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
