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Luciana Bianchi
L.Bianchi receives the 2019 Montalcini Prize
for Science from Hon. F. Legaluppi (former Consul of Italy)


Luciana Bianchi is an Astrophysicist and currently Research Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of The Johns Hopkins University(*). She held previous positions at the European Space Agency, Italian Institutes, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. Her research mainly focuses on the most massive stars, in our own Milky Way and beyond, and on the very hottest stars; both these stellar populations drive the dynamical and chemical evolution of galaxies, producing the important elements including those that support life as we know it, e.g., C, N, O, Ca... Massive stars are also powerful beacons that allow us to trace distant galaxies in the earliest epochs of the universe.
As a science co-Investigator in NASA's space mission GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer), she has been leading studies of nearby galaxies and now leads the (ongoing) UV sky project. She also leads investigations using the Hubble Space Telescope, UVIT, and large ground-based telescopes. She has led and participated in numerous observing projects with past missions, IUE, FUSE, Chandra and Spitzer space telescopes. She is involved in the design of new space missions proposed to NASA, leading some of the science objectives.
She currently directs several NASA-funded projects, and observing programs with the Hubble Space Telescope and UVIT.

Luciana Bianchi has authored over 500 publications in international journals, and has given invited talks and reviews in the Americas, Europe and Russia. She has served as expert reviewer or chair in selection panels of the European Research Council of the European Commission ("Universe" Panel), NASA panels, the Russian Science Foundation, Canadian, Indian and other Science agencies.
Luciana Bianchi has been also long-time involved in NASA's Science Mission Directorate's Forums aimed at enhancing effectiveness of science education by leveraging the appeal of NASA discoveries and technology, and with innovative approaches. One of her publications was selected by the Elsevier editors to appear in a special collection honouring 40 women from all branches of Physical Sciences. She was awarded the 2019 Montalcini prize for Science by the International Cultural Center of Maryland, USA.
Before undertaking her Astronomy doctoral studies and career, her education focused on the classics with a comprehensive spectrum in the humanities and science. She still divides her interest and enthusiasm among science and the humanities, and believes in the value of multi-disciplinarity.

Research Group (dolomiti)

Biographical Information and Publications

LINKS:
bandiera italiana Oggiscienza Speciale 150 Anni: biografie di scienziate che hanno dato il loro contributo alla storia della cultura del nostro paese. articolo di Simona Cerrato
also published in:
bandiera italiana Enciclopedia delle donne

where I am: JHU(*)
(*) JHU rankings:
2021: JHU N.10 in the Best Global Universities Rankings (based on academic research performance and global and regional reputation).
2021 ranking of grad.schools: N.17 in Physics, N.1 in Public Health, etc... see rankings
2018: JHU is N.12 world-wide, N.10 among US universities, on the U.S. News & World Report's annual list of the Best Global Universities
JHU is still N.1 in research spending
2014: JHU is 15th in the world-university-rankings
JHU ranked 14th among US universities, 16th worldwide, by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai. The Physics and Astronomy Dept. is ranked 14th.