Reviews Write New Review
Location
Booking Fee
Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
Virtual Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
[email protected]
Ellen Stofan
Under Secretary for Science & Research at the Smithsonian; Former Chief Scientist at NASA
Ellen Stofan is the Under Secretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian. She oversees its science research centers and the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History and the National Zoo. The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, Office of International Relations, Smithsonian Scholarly Press and Scientific Diving Program also report to Stofan. Her focus is the Smithsonian’s collective scientific initiatives and commitment to research across the Institution, especially addressing issues such as biodiversity, global health, climate change, species conservation, astrophysics and the search for life outside Earth’s solar system.
Previously, Stofan was the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (2018–2021) where she was the first woman to hold that position. Under her leadership, the museum began its seven-year renovation of its flagship building in Washington, D.C., in 2018. Stofan also oversaw the momentous celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing in July 2019 at the museum and on the National Mall.
Before joining the Smithsonian, Stofan had more than 25 years’ experience in space-related organizations and a deep research background in planetary geology. She was chief scientist at NASA (2013–2016), serving as the principal advisor to former Administrator Charles Bolden on NASA’s strategic planning and programs. She helped guide the development of a long-range plan to get humans to Mars, and worked on strategies for NASA to support commercial activity in low Earth orbit as it transitions from the International Space Station to sending humans to the moon and Mars in the mid-2020s.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in geology at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and her master’s and doctoral degrees at Brown University, both in geological sciences. While finishing her doctoral degree, Stofan joined the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) as a post-doctoral fellow and became the deputy project scientist for the Magellan Mission to Venus.
In 1994, Stofan became JPL’s chief scientist for the New Millennium Program where she managed a team of about 100 scientists working on new technologies. The following year, Stofan moved to London while continuing to work at JPL and was, and continues to be, an honorary professor at University College London.
For 13 years (2000–2013), Stofan was vice president and senior scientist at Proxemy Research, a consulting firm in the Washington area specializing in planetary research.
Stofan’s research focuses on the geology of Venus, Mars, Saturn’s moon Titan and Earth. Her favorite mission was Cassini, primarily because of her interest in Titan.
She has published extensively and received many awards and honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and was named one of “CNN’s Extraordinary People of 2014.” She is co-author of the books Planetology: Unlocking the Secrets of the Solar System and Next Earth: What Our World Can Teach Us About Other Planets, both published by National Geographic.
News
Related Speakers View all
Tara Ruttley
Chief Scientist at Blue Origin; Former NASA Scientis...
|
|
Jennifer Eigenbrode, Ph.D.
Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
|
|
Sylvia Acevedo
Engineer, Rocket Scientist & Technology Leader; Insp...
|
|
Cady Coleman
Former NASA Astronaut; Retired U.S. Air Force Office...
|
|
Aprille Ericsson
Rocket Scientist, Technologist & STEM Educator
|
|
Susan G. Finley
Longest-Serving Woman in NASA, Employee of NASA's Je...
|
|
Kavita Shukla
Founder & CEO of The FRESHGLOW Co.; Inventor of FRES...
|
|
Alena Analeigh
Brown STEM Girl Founder; Youngest Person of Color Ac...
|
|
Laurie Leshin
Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab
|
|
Alyssa Carson
Youngest Ever Astronaut in Training; Space Travel En...
|
|
Lauren Lyons
Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle Systems Engineer, Corpor...
|
|
Ayanna Howard
Pioneering Innovator, Entrepreneur & Inventor of Rob...
|
|
Jeanne Sullivan
Co-Founder of StarVest Partners & Chief Inspiration ...
|
|
Danielle Feinberg
Director of Photography at Pixar Animation Studios; ...
|
|
Lolita Taub
Latina Tech Venture Capitalist; Sales Expert; GP at ...
|
|
Peggy Whitson
Director at Axiom Space; NASA's Most Experienced Fem...
|
|
Karlie Kloss
Entrepreneur, Model, Philanthropist & Founder of Kod...
|
|
Dr. Monica F. Cox
Professor & Chair of the Department of Engineering E...
|
|
Dava Newman
Former Deputy Administrator of NASA; Professor of Ae...
|
|
Mina Bissell
Iranian-American Biologist; Known for her Research o...
|