Sheila Kanani Explained

Sheila Kanani
Alma Mater:University of ManchesterUniversity College London
Organization:Royal Astronomical Society
Known For:AstronomyScience Communication

Sheila Pearson (née Kanani) is a British astronomer and the Education, Outreach and Diversity Officer at the Royal Astronomical Society.

Education

Sheila Kanani attended Wimbledon High School.[1] She studied Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, which she graduated from in 2006. Kanani completed several summer placements, working in Australia using the Parkes telescope to search for exoplanets, at Jodrell Bank Observatory using pulsar astronomy.[2] She attended a Space Camp in Houston, Texas.[3] In 2012 she earned her PhD, which saw Kanani working with the Cassini spacecraft, analysing Saturn's magnetosphere from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory.[4] [5] [6] [7] Whilst there, she received a NASA Group Achievement Award.[8] [9]

Career

Kanani spent five years as an astronomer.[10] She briefly became a school physics teacher at Ashton Community Science College in Preston, Lancashire, under head of science Gary Anderton, before taking up her post at the Royal Astronomical Society in 2014.[11] That year, she won the Inspiring Women in Technology award.[12] She has always been interested in public engagement with astronomy.[13] [14] She has become a regular face in the national discussion of science.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Kanani is dedicated to improving the representation of girls and women in physics.[20] [21] [22] [23] In 2017, she wrote an astronomy guide with Elle Magazine.[24] She is identifying new ways to take astronomy and physics to underrepresented communities.[25] [26] Her children's book, 'How To Be An Astronaut and Other Space Jobs', illustrated by illustrator and graphic designer Sol Linero, was published by Nosy Crow in 2019 and was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award.[27]

Kanini wrote ‘Can you GET Jellyfish in SPACE?’, illustrated by Liz Kay, published by Puffin Books for World Book Day 2024.https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/443532/can-you-get-rainbows-in-space-by-kanani-dr-sheila/9780241519738

Kanani was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to astronomy and diversity in physics.

Notes and References

  1. News: Profile - Space Zone. Space Zone. 2018-01-31.
  2. Web site: PhD Opportunities. www.ucl.ac.uk. 2018-01-31.
  3. News: Interview: Sheila Kanani SpaceCareers.uk. SpaceCareers.uk. 2018-01-31.
  4. Web site: A Day in the Life of Dr Sheila Kanani. One Giant Read. en-GB. 2018-01-31.
  5. Web site: The Newsletter - Volume 10, Issue 2. 2012-10-02. MULLARD SPACE SCIENCE LABORATORY. 2018-01-31.
  6. Saturn's magnetosphere: influences, interactions and dynamics. SJ. Kanani. 2012-08-28. discovery.ucl.ac.uk. 2018-02-09. Doctoral .
  7. Kanani. S. J.. Arridge. C. S.. Jones. G. H.. Fazakerley. A. N.. McAndrews. H. J.. Sergis. N.. Krimigis. S. M.. Dougherty. M. K.. Coates. A. J.. 2010-06-01. A new form of Saturn's magnetopause using a dynamic pressure balance model, based on in situ, multi-instrument Cassini measurements. 2010JGRA..115.6207K. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics . 115. A6. A06207. 10.1029/2009JA014262. 0148-0227. 2027.42/95429. free.
  8. Web site: The Newsletter - Volume 7, Issue 2. Mullard Space Science Laboratory. 2018-01-31.
  9. Pryor. Wayne R.. Rymer. Abigail M.. Mitchell. Donald G.. Hill. Thomas W.. Young. David T.. Saur. Joachim. Jones. Geraint H.. Jacobsen. Sven. Cowley. Stan W. H.. April 2011. The auroral footprint of Enceladus on Saturn. Nature. 472. 7343. 331–333. 10.1038/nature09928. 21512570. 1476-4687. 2011Natur.472..331P. 205224415.
  10. News: 5 Minutes with… Sheila Kanani, Astronomer, Royal Astronomical Society - Principia Space Diary. 2016-03-24. Principia Space Diary. 2018-01-31.
  11. News: A day in the life of ... Sheila Kanani. Bowler. Dr Sue. Astronomy & Geophysics. 2018-01-31.
  12. News: Preston teacher Sheila Kanani wins Inspiring Women Technology Award. THOMPSON. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIRSTY. Lancashire Life. 2018-02-09.
  13. News: Exploring Saturn and the scale of the solar system - video. Newton. Source. 2012-11-23. The Guardian. 2018-01-31. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  14. Web site: Icarus Interstellar, Interstellar flight, Icarus Interstellar. Interstellar. Icarus. 2018-01-31. Icarus Interstellar. en-us. 2018-01-31.
  15. Web site: Catch a falling star The Salvation Army. www.salvationarmy.org.uk. 2018-02-09.
  16. News: Perseid meteor shower: See the meteors in the sky and online. 2018-01-31.
  17. Web site: Science Talk - Celebrating women in science, drug discovery and computing - The Institute of Cancer Research, London. www.icr.ac.uk. 2018-01-31.
  18. Web site: Ada Lovelace Day 2016 - UCL Engineering. www.engineering.ucl.ac.uk. en-GB. 2018-01-31.
  19. News: Cassini on its final dive towards Saturn. 2017-09-12. euronews. 2018-01-31.
  20. Web site: Accenture Girls' Take-up of Stem Subjects Is Held Back by Stereotypes. www.accenture.com. en-gb. 2018-01-31.
  21. News: STEM subjects still subject to gender stereotype. Education Technology. 2018-01-31.
  22. Web site: Sheila Kanani. www.destinationspace.uk. en-GB. 2018-02-09.
  23. News: 5 Minutes with… Sheila Kanani, Astronomer, Royal Astronomical Society - Principia Space Diary. 2016-03-24. Principia Space Diary. 2018-02-09.
  24. News: The Cheat's Guide To Stargazing - Impress All Your Friends This Summer. 2017-05-26. ELLE UK. 2018-02-09.
  25. 2015-02-01. Q&A: Sheila KananiQ&A: Sheila Kanani. Astronomy & Geophysics. 56. 1. 1.39. 10.1093/astrogeo/atv031. 1366-8781. free.
  26. Web site: A Day in the Life of Dr Sheila Kanani. One Giant Read. en-GB. 2018-02-09.
  27. Web site: Blue Peter Book Awards 2020. BookTrust. 5 March 2020.

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