Board of Directors
Ilan Chabay
Dr. Chabay is the first Erna & Victor Hasselblad Professor of Public Learning & Understanding of Science (PLUS), held jointly at Chalmers University of Technology and Göteborg University in Sweden. Dr. Chabay conducts research on how the public’s ideas about science and technology are learned, processed, used, and changed. Having earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. degree from Clark University, Dr. Chabay transitioned from research scientist to an advisor and consultant to government agencies, media companies, design firms, schools, and museums worldwide. He has been working for many years on science communication and public learning and understanding of science. The two strands of this work have been the creation of innovative science learning experiences and the implementation of new strategies to engage children and adults from diverse communities in social issues and the ideas and fun of science. He developed an innovative rural science outreach center and its educational programs. Dr. Chabay served on the Leadership and Planning Group for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Office of Space Science and directed a team that designed an innovative web-based Science Education Framework. He was the first recipient of the Alan B. Leviton Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Science Education of Children and Youth presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
David Heil
As President of David Heil & Associates, Mr. Heil works with non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and corporations to design, launch, and evaluate a range of educational and public outreach initiatives. Former Director of Informal Science Education for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Mr. Heil is an innovative science educator, new enterprise developer, lecturer, and author. He is the former host of the Emmy Award-winning science series, Newton’s Apple. He was lead author on the award-winning program, Discover The Wonder, and is editor of Family Science. David was the Associate Director of the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry. While there, he initiated and administered many of the museum’s nationally recognized education and outreach programs, and also developed hands-on exhibits for national tour. He also taught science and enrichment programs in grades 7-12, conducted research in plant biochemistry and radiochemistry, and worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He served on the Board of Directors of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, the Keystone Center, and currently serves as the Senior Science Advisor for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Mr. Heil recently received NSTA’s award for Distinguished Service to Science Education.
Jennifer Maguire Isham
Ms. Isham is the Executive Vice President of Tribeca Enterprises, the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival. Jennifer previously worked for CNN as a senior vice president for programming and talent development. She joined CNN from ABC, where she was a producer and senior staff member at Primetime Live and ABC News.
Stephen Pinsky
Dr. Pinsky is the Aspen Science Center Treasurer. He is Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University, having been a Professor of Physics and Director of the Ohio Center for Technology and Science. Pinsky has held visiting Professor positions at California Institute of Technology,Imperial College, London, and the University of Arizonia and has been a consultant to Los Alamos National Laboratory. While at OSU, he led the University Senate, was on the Board of the Health Care System, and led Ohio’s effort to attract the Superconducting Super Collider. He was the co-founder of the International Light Cone Advisory Committee where ran Light Cone meetings around the world. He was the Treasurer of the Aspen Center for Physics and is currently an honorary member, he is on the Science Board of an energy storage company, Nanotune Corporation, and has also served on community non-profit boards. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. from MIT. His research interest range from phenomology to applied Mathematics and light cone physics and he recently, developed a numerical method for solving supersymmetric quantum field theories.
Sarah Johnson Redlich
A former Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton, Ms. Redlich left the financial services firm to launch Spike & Annie, a children’s clothing company. Educated at St. Lawrence University and the University of San Francisco, Ms. Redlich has dedicated herself to education, science, and conservation. She recently spearheaded the drive to build a $40M state-of-the-art science facility for St. Lawrence. A Trustee of St. Lawrence, she has also served as Vice-Chair of the Capital Campaign, and served as Vice-Chair of the Architecture and Physical Plant. Ms. Redlich advances science-based environmental legislation as the Chair, National Affairs and Legislation, for the Hillsborough Chapter of the Garden Club of America. At Conservation International, she is a member of the Chairman's Council. Ms. Redlich also serves in an advisory capacity at the board level for other non-profit organizations.
Andrei Ruckenstein
Dr. Ruckenstein is past President of the Aspen Center for Physics and a co-founder of the Aspen Science Center. He holds a B.S. from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell. He is trained as a theoretical condensed matter physicist and is known for his work in strongly correlated quantum systems. He later redirected his interests towards biology-driven research. He was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, an Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and a Humboldt Foundation Senior Prize. Dr. Ruckenstein is currently Associate Provost & Vice President for Research and Professor of Physics at Boston University.
George Stranahan
Chairman: At age 12 George knew that science would be his career choice, and his subsequent grades in assorted schools demonstrate his disinterest in any other subject. Except for a two year stint in the army late in the Korean War his career was a standard academic progression of BS, Ms, PhD, Research Associate, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and out. He worked in theory on meson physics, plasma physics and some very non-linear mathematics of phase transitions. He was improbably in the right place at the right time to become one of the founders of the Aspen Center of Physics, unquestionably a much more significant contribution to physics than his research papers.
Our Mission
The Aspen Science Center's mission is--through excellence in science-based Education, Outreach, and a Public Understanding of Science.
This mission is:
1.To enrich the knowledge, involvement, and enthusiasm of the local community in science – to catalyze the interest of young people in the Roaring Fork Valley in scientific inquiry by providing science programs and resources that are cutting-edge, entertaining, accessible, relevant, and understandable.
2 To catalyze local, state, and national solutions based upon good science, by creating programs and forums where the goal is informed, candid dialogue among the diverse stakeholders leading to real-world solutions to important challenges in science education and scientific literacy.
Guiding Principles
Science is an indispensable tool for understanding our world, becoming an informed citizen, and enriching people's lives. In today's world, each citizen must have a solid base in the understanding of, and appreciation for, scientific concepts and their essential role in the betterment of humankind.
The Aspen Science Center was formed to offer teachers, students, academics, and the larger community a vital center of research, instruction, and exploration of science, and an epicenter for science literacy.
Operations
In education, our goal is to bridge the gap between research, education, and passion for sound science. This understanding will enhance every aspect of our lives.
In Outreach, our goal is to provide innovative, immersive experiences that enhance the community's understanding of, and appreciation for, good science.
The Aspen Science Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization founded to bring science into our lives in a compelling way and use the power of good science to create a better future for all of us.
The Aspen Science Center will enter partnerships with universities, government and other educational agencies, NGOs and industry, collaborating with them to pursue our goals throughout the United States and beyond.