Public Invited to FREE Presentation by Award-Winning Astronomy Journalist

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) invites the public to learn how scientific discoveries become news on Sunday evening, March 17th, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm PDT. Astronomy writer Joshua Sokol, winner of HEAD's 2019 David N. Schramm Award for science journalism, will present "The Stories Behind Space Stories: How Research Goes Public," in De Anza Ballroom II & III at the Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, Two Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940. Immediately thereafter, some 300 astronomers and space scientists from across the country and around the world will convene for the opening reception of the HEAD 17th Divisional Meeting, which continues at the Portola Hotel & Spa through March 21st.

Josh Sokol is being honored by HEAD for his article "Star-Swallowing Black Holes Reveal Secrets in Exotic Light Show," published in Quanta Magazine on August 8, 2018. Sokol is a freelance science journalist in Boston, where he covers astronomy and other topics in natural history. After receiving bachelor's degrees in English literature and astronomy at Swarthmore College, he worked as a data analyst for the Hubble Space Telescope, then obtained a master's degree from MIT's graduate program in science writing. This is not his first award from the AAS; the Division for Planetary Sciences honored him with its 2017 science-journalism prize for an article in New Scientist about outer-planet moons with subsurface oceans.

HEAD's science-writing award is named for renowned astrophysicist David N. Schramm, who died in a plane crash in 1997 at age 52. It recognizes distinguished writing on high-energy astrophysics in order to improve the public's understanding and appreciation of this exciting field of research.

The AAS High Energy Astrophysics Division offers complimentary press registration to qualified local media representatives who wish to cover the HEAD 17th Divisional Meeting; contact HEAD Press Officer Megan Watzke ([email protected], 617-496-7998) for more information or to register.

The American Astronomical Society (AAS), established in 1899 and headquartered in Washington, DC, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe, which it achieves through publishing, meeting organization, education and outreach, and training and professional development. The AAS High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD), established in 1969, assists and promotes the advancement of research and the dissemination of knowledge about high-energy particles and photons, relativistic gravitational fields, and related phenomena in the astrophysical universe. HEAD also promotes the coordination of this research and knowledge with other branches of science.

SOURCE American Astronomical Society

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