Deborah Byrd (born March 1, 1951 in

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

) is an American

science journalist Science journalism conveys reporting about science to the public. The field typically involves interactions between scientists, journalists, and the public. Origins Modern science journalism dates back to '' Digdarshan'' (means showing the d ...

. She is editor-in-chief of

EarthSky ''Earth & Sky'' was a daily radio series that presented information about science and nature. It began broadcasting in 1991 and ceased operations in 2013. ''EarthSky'' is the ongoing website, serving 21 million users in 2019, according to Google ...

, which presents science news and night sky information. The website served more than 21 million users in 2019, according to Google Analytics.

Early life

On March 1, 1951, Byrd was born in

. Byrd's father was Kenneth Byrd, a long-time editor of the now-defunct

San Antonio Light The ''San Antonio Express-News'' is a daily newspaper in San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation and has offices in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The ''Express-News'' is the third largest newspaper in the state of ...

. Her mother, Rosetta Schroeder Byrd, was a painter.

Career

With Joel Block, Byrd created the internationally syndicated ''

Earth & Sky ''Earth & Sky'' was a daily radio series that presented information about science and nature. It began broadcasting in 1991 and ceased operations in 2013. ''EarthSky'' is the ongoing website, serving 21 million users in 2019, according to Google ...

'' radio series in 1991. She served as executive producer and cohost of the daily radio series until 2013, when the radio series ended (although the website continued). Earth & Sky was funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and other sponsors. Byrd wrote, produced and co-hosted – or oversaw the production of – more than 8,000 radio spots in 90-second, 60-second and 8-minute formats, with 13 million daily media impressions for astronomy in English on 1,800+ broadcast outlets, mostly U.S., but also Voice of America to Asia. During these years, Byrd also oversaw the production of video programming on science for YouTube, science programming for children, and audio and video programs in Spanish for Univision. In 1976, Byrd founded the astronomy ho
line
that, in 1978, became the syndicated astronomy radio series StarDate. Byrd secured the National Science Foundation grants that made StarDate's national distribution possibl

She produced StarDate, with host Joel Block, until 1991. StarDate continues, under the auspices of the University of Texas

McDonald Observatory McDonald Observatory is an astronomical observatory located near unincorporated community of Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The facility is located on Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, with additional faci ...

. In 1979, Byrd founded the annual

Texas Star Party The Texas Star Party (TSP) is a large annual star party in the United States. TSP was started by Deborah Byrd, members of the Austin Astronomical Society, and McDonald Observatory in August 1979. It was a weekend gathering of amateur astronome ...

in the

Davis Mountains The Davis Mountains, originally known as Limpia Mountains, are a range of mountains in West Texas, located near Fort Davis, after which they are named. The fort was named for then United States Secretary of War and later Confederate President J ...

of West Texas. It remains a week-long astronomy festival, with hundreds of attendees yearly from around the world. Byrd has won numerous awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. Byrd was an early winner of the Klumpke-Roberts Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. In 2003, under Byrd's leadership, ''Earth & Sky'' became the first radio show ever to win a Public Service Award from the U.S.

National Science Board The National Science Board (NSB) of the United States establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation (NSF) within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and the Congress. The NSB also serves as an ind ...

"for its achievement in broadcasting explanations of research and everyday science to a worldwide audience". In 2020, Byrd was awarded the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the education of the public, students, and/or the next generation of professional astronomers. Byrd was recognized for her contributions to the Texas Star Party, the University of Texas McDonald Observatory's StarDate radio program and magazine, and the Earth & Sky radio program and website, "all of which epitomize her advocacy for science and her lifetime of service in educating and inspiring the public with the wonders and beauty of astronomy."

Awards

* 2011 Arts & Science Advocacy Award. Presented by Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences (CCAS). * 2020 AAS Education Prize. Presented by American Astronomical Society.

References

External links

Deborah Byrd is a B.A.D. bloggerByrd is the Word at plentymag.comAstronomy magazine podcast: Deborah ByrdTexas Star Party website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrd, Deborah Living people American women astronomers American radio personalities People from San Antonio 1951 births Science communicators