About Me

Pamela L. Gay (2009)

I am an astronomer, writer, and podcaster focused on using new media to engage people in science and technology. My most well known project may be Astronomy Cast, a podcast I co-host with Fraser Cain (Producer of Universe Today). Each week, Fraser and I work to take our listeners on a facts-based journey through the cosmos that explores not only what we know about the universe, but how we know it. We are know entering our 4th year of production, and thanks to the constant new discoveries coming out of the Space Science communities, we have no plans stop recording any time soon.

Clear Skies (2009)

Prior to working on Astronomy Cast, I and fellow Slackers Aaron Price and Travis Searle worked on Slacker Astronomy, the first podcast devoted explicitly to astronomy. Slacker Astronomy was the reason for science becoming a distinct genre in podcast directories. Launching in February 2005, Slacker Astronomy ran for over a year. Parodying everything from the opening to ABC’s Monday Night Football [mp3] and the theme to Green Acres, Slacker Astronomy combined off-beat humor with hard-core science. Off-air, we produced the first peer-reviewed papers (1, 2) on what it takes to make a podcast and find out who is listening. (Astronomy Cast and collaborators have followed up with three more papers – 3, and two not yet online)

In addition to podcasting, I also work to communicate astronomy to the public through this blog, through frequent public talks, and through popular articles. My writing has appeared in Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines.

A public school kid through and through, I received a B.S. in Astrophysis from Michigan State University in 1996 and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Texas in 2002. Today, I teach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Although my first research love was and remains variable stars (I even serves on the council of the American Association of Variable Star Astronomers), I have committed scientific adultery more than once to steal moments for exploring the secrets of galaxy evolution. Today, I am part of the Galaxy Zoo collaboration, and work with an amazing team of students helping writing the software and education content for the Zoo.

While it may seem that I either live on campus or perhaps online, I actually live in a historic house in southern Illinois with my husband, two dogs, and a lot of books. Whenever I can, escape to Liberty Prairie Farm to ride my horse Skye.

Pamela and Skye

Personal Statement

There is an element of schizophrenia inherent in the life of any astronomer. Torn between the light and darkness, we must be the thoughtful instructor to our day weary students, and the nocturnal voyeur, diligently stalking the heavens. To the public we must be eloquent in our elocution of true wisdom, while among ourselves we stumble to find possible explanations for that which we don’t understand. We are researchers who think logically and live by reason, yet we are humans and are bound to our emotions. We are torn in every direction: research, family, teaching, learning, community and academic isolation. We are always driven to do more than we can possibly do and I personally always feel that there is something left undone

Why do I fight to wend my way through so many mazes and masks? Because astronomers are also free to learn and to discover the truths that no one has yet realized, and while we can never fully know all the answers, the pursuit of that next piece of the universal puzzle drives me to drive myself to meet the challenges of all the characters I am asked to play.

I am often asked about my belief system. I have created a page to answer that question here.

Online Interviews of me

Technorama (May 23, 2008), [mp3]
Idea Festival (February 21, 2008)
Skeptacality (October 2, 2007), [mp3]
Skepticality (August 21, 2007), [mp3]
Skepticality (July 10, 2007), [mp3]
Skeptics Guide to the Universe (May 16, 2007), [mp3]
G’Day World (April 25, 07), [mp3]
Slackapedia Galactica (January 9, 2007), [mp3]
Chuck Chat (July 18, 2005) [mp3]
Lolife Podcast (June 2, 05) [mp3]

Other Places to Find Me Online

Astronomy Cast
Astrosphere New Media
NASA Center for Astronomy Education