J. Christopher Howk, professor of physics, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Space Telescope Users Committee. The committee advises the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and Goddard Space Flight Center on the scientific operations of the Hubble Space Telescope and is jointly chosen by the STScI Director and Hubble Space Telescope Project Scientist at Goddard. Howk will serve a three-year term, effective April 25. The committee is responsible for advising the Hubble teams on normal operations of the observatory and with recommending changes that will maximize its scientific productivity.
Howk’s research interests lie in understanding the gaseous phase of the universe. He and his group are especially interested in understanding the exchange of gas between galaxies as they evolve. He is also interested in using astrophysical spectroscopy to constrain fundamental physics, including the production of the lightest elements during the big bang. His group uses a range of observatories to pursue these goals, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, and Notre Dame’s own Large Binocular Telescope, for which Howk serves on the Science & Technology Committee.
Originally published by at physics.nd.edu on March 05, 2013.