Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Dr. Adam Leroy
In this series of posts, we delve into conversations with several keynote speakers at the 247th AAS meeting, offering insights into their research and backgrounds. You can explore the full schedule of their talks here: [https://aas.org/meetings/aas247/program] and read our other interviews here: [https://astrobites.org/?s=aas+keynote+speakers]!
Background
Understanding the intricate relationship between stars, star formation, and the interstellar medium is crucial for comprehending galaxy evolution. Dr. Adam Leroy, a professor at Ohio State University, is an expert in this field. He employs multi-wavelength observations, utilizing facilities like the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), to study the interstellar medium, star formation, feedback mechanisms, and their impact on galaxy formation and evolution. Prior to his plenary talk, I had the opportunity to interview Adam, gaining insights into his journey, research, and advice for aspiring astronomers.
Adam's academic path began at Harvard, where he explored various interests, including literature, before discovering astronomy. He pursued his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, and held a Hubble Fellowship at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) before becoming an Assistant Astronomer there. In 2015, he joined Ohio State University as a Professor of Astronomy. Adam attributes his success to being in the right place at the right time, especially with the advent of advanced instruments like ALMA and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Current Research
Adam's current research focuses on star formation and its connection to feedback in galaxies, primarily studying nearby galaxies within a distance range of 50 mega-parsecs. His expertise lies in combining observations from various wavelengths, including radio and infrared, to gain a comprehensive understanding of these celestial objects. He leverages large surveys and data-generating projects like ALMA, VLA, and JWST to achieve this.
One of the most exciting developments in Adam's field is the revelation that star formation processes vary across different regions of the universe. Prior to the advent of ALMA, it was believed that stellar nurseries and molecular clouds were uniform across the cosmos. However, with ALMA's enhanced capabilities, researchers discovered that these stellar nurseries exhibit unique characteristics in various locations, providing valuable insights into the initial conditions of star formation.
In his plenary talk, Adam will discuss the PHANGS survey, a collaborative project involving multiple telescopes. This survey combines ALMA, JWST, Hubble, VLT, and other telescopes to study the nearest hundred massive star-forming galaxies. Adam highlights the significance of JWST's ability to trace the interstellar medium through its detection of PAH grains, offering high sensitivity and resolution.
Advice for Early-Career Astronomers
When asked for advice, Adam emphasized the importance of building connections with peers. He believes that these connections are vital for collaboration and teamwork throughout one's career.
Don't miss Dr. Adam Leroy's Plenary Lecture, where he will delve into simulations of star formation physics. Join him on Wednesday, January 7th, at 8:10 am MST, as he explores the interstellar medium of nearby galaxies at #AAS247.
