Matthew John O'Dowd is an Australian astrophysicist. He is an associate professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the

Lehman College Lehman College is a public college in the Bronx borough of New York City. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, the school became an independent college within CUNY in September 1967. The college is named after Herbert H. Lehma ...

of the

City University of New York The City University of New York ( CUNY; , ) is the Public university, public university system of Education in New York City, New York City. It is the largest urban university system in the United States, comprising 25 campuses: eleven Upper divis ...

and writer and host of ''PBS Space Time'' on YouTube. He is a frequent guest on ''Science Goes to the Movies'' on CUNY TV and on StarTalk radio with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Education

University

O’Dowd attended the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

, beginning his Bachelor's in Science in 1992 and concluding in 1994 with a major in physics. In 1995, he completed his First Class Honours in physics. In 2003, he completed his

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is a ...

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

and

astrophysics Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline said, Astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the nature of the h ...

with his thesis, titled: 'The Host Galaxies of Radio-loud AGN'.

Career

O'Dowd is an associate professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the Lehman College of the City University of New York. He is a staff scientist at the

American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History (abbreviated as AMNH) is a natural history museum on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. In Theodore Roosevelt Park, across the street from Central Park, the museum complex comprises 26 inter ...

. Since 2015, he has been the writer and host of ''PBS Space Time'', a video series by

PBS Digital Studios PBS Digital Studios is a non-profit organization that through which PBS distributes original educational web video content based in Arlington, Virginia. It comprises both original series and partnerships with existing YouTube channels. Most of t ...

. O'Dowd is a crew member of Black Rock Observatory, a mobile observatory that debuted at

Burning Man Burning Man is an event focused on community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance held annually in the western United States. The name of the event comes from its culminating ceremony: the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred ...

in 2012.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Odowd, Matthew 1973 births Living people Australian astrophysicists University of Melbourne alumni Lehman College faculty Australian science communicators