Education
Geller received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley (1970) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from Princeton (1975).
Geller received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley (1970) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from Princeton (1975).
Her work has included pioneering maps of the nearby universe, studies of the relationship between galaxies and their environment, and the development and application of methods for measuring the distribution of matter in the universe. After research fellowships at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, England, she became an assistant professor of Astronomy at Harvard University (1980-1983). She then joined the permanent scientific staff of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, a partner in the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Geller is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
Two years later, she was elected to the Physics section of the United States National Academy of Sciences. From 2000 to 2003, she served on the Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
She has received six honorary degrees (Doctorate South H C). Geller is known for observational and theoretical work in cosmology and extragalactic astronomy.
In the 1980s, she made pioneering maps of the large-scale structure of the universe, which led to the discovery of the Great Wall.
With the 6.5-m MMT, she is conducting a more distant survey of the universe called HectoMAP. Geller has developed innovative techniques for investigating the internal structure and total mass of clusters of galaxies and the relationship of clusters to the large-scale structure. Geller is also a co-discoverer of hypervelocity stars. Geller has made several films for public education.
Her 8-minute video Where the Galaxies Are (1989) was the first graphic voyage through the observed universe and was awarded a Council on International Nontheatrical Events Gold Eagle.
A later 40-minute film, So Many Galaxies..So Little Time, contains more sophisticated prize-winning (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers/Siggraph) graphics and was on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Geller has lectured extensively to public audiences around the world.
She has lectured twice in the main amphitheater at the Chautauqua Institution. She is included in National Public Radio"s list of The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever.
Her story about her entry into astrophysics and meeting the renowned astrophysicist John Archibald Wheeler, entitled "Mapping the Universe" was published by The Story Collider podcast on May 21, 2014.
1989 Newcomb Cleveland Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science along with John P.
1989 Newcomb Cleveland Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science along with John P. Huchra for "Mapping the Universe" 1990 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship 1993 Helen Sawyer Hogg Lecture of the Canadian Astronomical Society 1996 Klopsteg Memorial Award of the American Association of Physics Teachers 1997 New York Public Library Library Lion 2003 Louisiana Medaille de l"ADION of Nice Observatory 2008 Magellanic Premium by the American Philosophical Society for her research into the groupings of galaxies. 2009 Honorary Degree (DSHC) from Colby College 2010 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship of the American Astronomical Society 2010 James Craig Watson Medal of the National Academy of Sciences 2013 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society 2014 Karl Schwarzschild Medal of the German Astronomical Society 2014 Honorary Degree (DSHC) from Dartmouth College.
National Academy of Sciences. American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
