{"id":213515,"date":"2025-04-08T12:25:22","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T22:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=213515"},"modified":"2025-04-08T12:25:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T22:25:22","slug":"karen-meech-named-aaas-fellow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/08\/karen-meech-named-aaas-fellow\/","title":{"rendered":"Award-winning UH<\/abbr> astronomer who studies alien worlds named fellow"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Karen
Karen Meech and an artist\u2019s impression of ʻOumuamua<\/span>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Karen Meech has spent her career chasing big questions—like how habitable worlds form and whether or not life exists beyond Earth. Now, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> astronomer has been named a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS<\/abbr>), one of science\u2019s highest honors. She is one of 471 researchers nationwide recognized this year.<\/p>\n

Meech, a professor at UH<\/abbr>\u2019s Institute for Astronomy<\/a>, has taught at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa since 1988. She traces her fascination with the universe to childhood nights spent sleeping under the stars in Colorado.<\/p>\n

“The rich interdisciplinary research environment at UH<\/abbr> has truly stimulated the pursuit of bigger picture questions,” said Meech. “By interacting with other disciplines you not only provide your own expertise, but also learn from other experts. It is this intersection that often sparks the \u2018aha\u2019 moment or innovative idea that can lead to scientific breakthroughs from unexpected directions. This makes the science both exciting and fun!”<\/p>\n

Headliner discovery<\/h2>\n
\"Oumuamua
Artist\u2019s impression of ʻOumuamua<\/span>, the first interstellar object seen passing through the solar system. Karen Meech led an international research team\u2019s analysis of the discovery. (Credit: ESA<\/abbr>\/Hubble, NASA, ESO<\/abbr>, M. Kornmesser)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meech is a leading voice in planetary science. In 2017, she led the international team that studied ʻOumuamua<\/span>—the first interstellar object observed in our solar system—spotted by UH<\/abbr>\u2019s Pan-STARRS1 telescope<\/a>. The discovery made headlines around the world.<\/p>\n

“Karen\u2019s career has been phenomenal, including innovative outreach programs, leading a NASA<\/abbr> Astrobiology Institute at UH<\/abbr>, involvement in major NASA<\/abbr> missions, and amazing research in comets including multidisciplinary studies about the source of water on earth,” said Doug Simons, executive director at IfA<\/abbr>. “I\u2019m thrilled she is getting this much deserved recognition at AAAS<\/abbr>, which is thoroughly deserved.”<\/p>\n