OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zonta International
announced today that it would award physics and astronomy professor
Andrea M. Ghez, one of the world's
leading experts in observational astrophysics, an honorary
membership in the organization, which works around the world to
empower women through service and advocacy. Ghez is Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine chair in Astrophysics at the
University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) and heads UCLA's Galactic Center Group.
"It is a great honor and privilege to welcome Professor Ghez to
Zonta International honorary membership in recognition of her
efforts to elevate the status of women in her field and for serving
as a role model for other women scientists and girls across the
globe who are interested in pursuing education and careers in STEM
fields," said Zonta International President Sharon Langenbeck.
Best known for her groundbreaking work on the center of our
galaxy, which has led to the best evidence to date for the
existence of supermassive black holes, Ghez has received numerous
honors and awards. In 2020, she became the fourth woman to be
awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, sharing one half of the prize
with Reinhard Genzel (the other half
of the prize being awarded to Roger
Penrose). Ghez and Genzel were awarded the Nobel Prize for
the independent discovery of a supermassive compact object, now
generally recognized to be a black hole, in the Milky Way's
galactic center.
"I'm delighted to become an honorary member of Zonta
International," Ghez said. "The very first award I ever received
came from Zonta. With only 10% of my class in graduate school being
women, this was an important affirmation, as it helped me
understand that I had potential to compete and succeed in
science."
Ghez has also received the Crafoord Prize in Astronomy from the
Royal Swedish Academy of Science—becoming the first woman to
receive the prize in any field—the Bakerian Medal from the Royal
Society of London, a MacArthur
Fellowship, and election to the National Academy of Sciences, the
American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the American
Philosophical Society. In 1987, she was a recipient of Zonta
International's Amelia Earhart Fellowship, which awards women
pursuing advanced degrees in aerospace engineering and space
sciences.
Committed to the communication of science to the public and
inspiring young girls to pursue careers in science, Ghez can be
found in many public outlets including TED, NOVA's Monster of
the Milky Way, Discovery's Swallowed by a Black Hole, TED, and
Griffith Observatory.
The Zonta International Board awards lifelong International
Honorary Membership to individuals who have helped to change
societal attitudes about women or have improved conditions for
women beyond the national level. Since 1970, Zonta International
has recognized 41 women for their significant contributions to
advancing the status of women worldwide.
Zonta International (www.zonta.org) is a leading global
organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through
service and advocacy. More than 27,000 members in 63 countries work
together to make gender equality a worldwide reality for women and
girls. Zonta International has provided more than US$59 million to empower women and girls and
expand their access to education, health care, economic
opportunities and safe living conditions.
Contact:
Megan
Radavich
Assistant Executive Director, Programs & Advocacy
Zonta International
Phone: +1.630.928.1400
Email: 320617@email4pr.com
www.zonta.org
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/andrea-m-ghez-2020-nobel-prize-winner-and-astrophysics-expert-named-honorary-member-of-zonta-international-301393701.html
SOURCE Zonta International
