Physics and Astronomy

David Nataf joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy in August as an assistant professor in the Astronomy and Astrophysics research area. Nataf studies populations of stars to use them to understand better the history of our galaxy (The Milky Way) and the University as a whole. His research uses data from various ground-based observatories (based in Chile, Hawaii, etc.) and present and upcoming space-based observatories such as the Hubble, James Webb, and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescopes.

Several local news organizations did stories about the University of Iowa's $1.495 million award from NASA’s Safety, Security, and Mission Services division for state-of-the-art equipment needed to build instruments for future missions. The funds will also provide students with more opportunities to obtain instrument-building knowledge and training for careers in space exploration. The Support for Space Technology Innovation and Education award originated with Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who toured research areas in Van Allen Hall on Aug. 23 to learn more about the Department's efforts to build spaceflight instrumentation and its programs giving students in STEM fields hands-on experience with flight hardware.

The University of Iowa, a long-standing leader in the design and building of instruments for space-based missions, has been awarded nearly $1.5 million from NASA to purchase state-of-the-art equipment needed to build instruments for future missions. The funds will also provide students more opportunities to obtain the instrument-building knowledge and training for careers in space exploration.