Sixto A. González Edick (born 1965) was the Director of the
Arecibo Observatory
The Arecibo Observatory, also known as the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) and formerly known as the Arecibo Ionosphere Observatory, is an observatory in Barrio Esperanza, Arecibo, Puerto Rico owned by the US National Science F ...
from September 29, 2003, to September 15, 2006. Arecibo Observatory was an astronomical observatory located in Puerto Rico. At the time of González's directorship Arecibo was the world's largest single dish
radio telescope
A radio telescope is a specialized antenna and radio receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical radio sources in the sky. Radio telescopes are the main observing instrument used in radio astronomy, which studies the radio frequency ...
. González was the first Puerto Rican in the position of Director of the observatory.
Early years
González was born in
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón (, ) is a Bayamón barrio-pueblo, city, Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality of Puerto Rico and suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan located in the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, Aguas Buenas an ...
. In 1983, he traveled to
. González returned to the island in 1985 and enrolled at the
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
The University of Puerto Rico, Humacao Campus (UPRH or UPR-Humacao) is a public college in Humacao, Puerto Rico. It is part of the University of Puerto Rico. Its campus is home to the UPRH Astronomical Observatory and the college graduates more m ...
to study Applied
Physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
and Electronics, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1988.
He was accepted at
MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
.
González completed his Ph.D. in 1994 at
Utah State University
Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public land-grant research university in Logan, Utah. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. With nearly 20,000 students living on or near campus, USU is Utah's ...
.
Director of the Arecibo Observatory
When González returned to the island, he became the first Puerto Rican member of the scientist staff of Arecibo observatory and was named research associate at the observatory. He held this position until 1999 when he was named senior research associate. He and Jose Alonso, educational officer at the observatory, and Maiella Ramos (UPR) created a new program of firsthand research experience in geosciences for high school students and their teachers and for undergraduates in northwest Puerto Rico.
In 2001, González was named assistant director for space and atmospheric sciences at the radar facility. On September 29, 2003, González became the first Puerto Rican to be named Director of the observatory.
This appointment was made by Robert Brown, director of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC). González was responsible for the overall management of the facility, including the executions of basic policy that maintains the observatory at the front of research in
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 ...
, planetary studies and space and atmospheric science. The appointment to the position of site director was for a three-year term and it expired on September 15, 2006.
In early 2009, a "Dear Colleague" letter from Dana Lehr announced the following: "NSF will compete the next cooperative agreement for the management and operation of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) through an open, merit-based review process...."
In early June 2011 the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that the cooperative agreement to manage, operate and maintain the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico for the next five years (from 2011 to 2016) would be awarded to
SRI International
SRI International (SRI) is an American nonprofit scientific research institute and organization headquartered in Menlo Park, California. The trustees of Stanford University established SRI in 1946 as a center of innovation to support economic d ...
.
Gonzalez retired as Director for Space and Atmospheric Sciences at the Arecibo Observatory that was part of SRI's Center for Geospace Studies.
Honors
On October 30, 2003, González was honored by the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
when he was publicly congratulated.
See also
*
Puerto Rican scientists and inventors
Before Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Conquistadors landed on the island of "Borikén" (Puerto Rico), the Tainos who inhabited the island depended on their astronomical observations for the cultivation of their crops.
In 1581, Jua ...
*
German immigration to Puerto Rico
German immigration to Puerto Rico began in the early part of the 19th century and continued to increase when German businessmen immigrated and established themselves with their families on the island.
However, it was the economic and political s ...
References
External links
Researcher IDArecibo Observatory - SRI International
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Sixto
1965 births
Living people
People from Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican scientists
SRI International people
Utah State University alumni