{"id":96568,"date":"2022-05-12T13:23:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T17:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-479497"},"modified":"2023-10-02T16:06:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T20:06:33","slug":"nasa-goddard-astrophysicist-awarded-2022-lgbtq-scientist-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/goddard\/nasa-goddard-astrophysicist-awarded-2022-lgbtq-scientist-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Goddard Astrophysicist Awarded 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?w=1333\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A white women with cropped short red hair and a blue button down shirt. They are standing on a balcony, and in the background in the golden mirror section of the James Webb Space Telescope laid down.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg 1333w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=682,1024 682w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?resize=800,1200 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Dr. Jane Rigby,\nAstrophysicist & Deputy Operations Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), \nNASA Goddard Space Flight Center<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>\u00a0NASA\/David P. Friedlander<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dr. Jane Rigby, an astrophysicist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was recently awarded the 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year by Out to Innovate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The winners of its 2022 recognition awards for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) were initiated by the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Professionals (NOGLSTP), which officially transitioned to Out to Innovate in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to their field through design, research, or management. Rigby, an astrophysicist, is also the Operations Project Scientist for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope<\/a> (Webb). Rigby earned degrees in both physics and astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State University and her Ph.D. in astronomy from University of Arizona. Rigby develops new techniques to study galaxy evolution, star-forming galaxies, and active galactic nuclei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I was a student, all through college, I wasn\u2019t aware of any LGBTQ role models,\u201d Rigby said. \u201cI hope I\u2019m part of the last generation who grow up without queer role models.  I hope this award brings hope to queer folks pursuing careers in STEM, and I hope it reminds organizations that inclusion matters every single day.  I also see this award as a recognition of how transformative Webb will be for astronomy \u2014 I\u2019m so proud of helping that telescope become a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rigby and her team at NASA, with international collaborators, have led many successful research campaigns, collecting data from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.keckobservatory.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Keck<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/obs.carnegiescience.edu\/Magellan\" rel=\"noopener\">Magellan Observatories<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/hubble\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubble Space Telescope<\/a>. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. She also has given numerous professional and public presentations on her research and on the James Webb Space Telescope. Rigby has been recognized for her research, mentorship, and diversity-related work with awards such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/scicolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov\/Lindsay_Awards.html\" rel=\"noopener\">John C. Lindsay Memorial Award for Space Science<\/a> and served on the 2020 Decadal Survey of Astronomy and Astrophysics for the National Academies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rigby serves as a trustee of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and was a founding member of the AAS Committee for Sexual-Orientation and Gender Minorities in Astronomy. One letter of support noted that they \u201cespecially admire Jane\u2019s unwavering stand that she is a *better* astronomer because she is queer\u2026because of the leadership training she received as a LGBT activist, and because of the resilience she has developed by surviving as an LGBT person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked what advice she has for future LGBTQ+ scientists interested in research in this world and beyond, she offered: \u201cDo fabulous science, be fabulous, and be kind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Out to Innovate has recognized exemplary individuals with LGTBQ+ Educator, Engineer, and Scientist of the year for over 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a> in Greenbelt, Maryland, is home to the nation\u2019s largest organization of scientists, engineers and technologists who build spacecraft, instruments and new technology to study Earth, the sun, our solar system and the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about Dr. Rigby, visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jwst.nasa.gov\/content\/meetTheTeam\/people\/rigby.html\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.jwst.nasa.gov\/content\/meetTheTeam\/people\/rigby.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons 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2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Oct 02, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Editor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\">Jamie Adkins<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/diversity-at-nasa\/\">Diversity at NASA<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/lgbtq-pride\/\">LGBTQ Pride<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/goddard-people\/\">People of Goddard<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/\">People of NASA<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/women-at-nasa\/\">Women at NASA<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Jane Rigby, an astrophysicist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was recently awarded the 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year by Out to Innovate. The winners of its 2022 recognition awards for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) were initiated by the National [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":98937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"118","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2857,2885,11942,12282,2668,2884],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10475,3913],"coauthors":[12413],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Goddard Astrophysicist Awarded 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/goddard\/nasa-goddard-astrophysicist-awarded-2022-lgbtq-scientist-of-the-year\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/goddard\/nasa-goddard-astrophysicist-awarded-2022-lgbtq-scientist-of-the-year\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Goddard Digital Team"}],"creator":["Goddard Digital Team"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["People of NASA","Women at NASA","Goddard Space Flight Center","Diversity at NASA","LGBTQ Pride","People of Goddard"],"dateCreated":"2022-05-12T17:23:00Z","datePublished":"2022-05-12T17:23:00Z","dateModified":"2023-10-02T20:06:33Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Goddard Astrophysicist Awarded 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/goddard\/nasa-goddard-astrophysicist-awarded-2022-lgbtq-scientist-of-the-year\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-05-12T17:23:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"People of NASA,Women at NASA,Goddard Space Flight Center,Diversity at NASA,LGBTQ Pride,People of Goddard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Goddard Digital Team\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"2 years","featured_image":{"id":98937,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jane-rigby.jpeg","title":"jane-rigby","alt":"A white women with cropped short red hair and a blue button down shirt. They are standing on a balcony, and in the background in the golden mirror section of the James Webb Space Telescope laid down.","caption":"Dr. Jane Rigby,\nAstrophysicist & Deputy Operations Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), \nNASA Goddard Space Flight Center"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96568"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96568"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96568\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":537700,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96568\/revisions\/537700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96568"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=96568"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=96568"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=96568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}