Andrew Fraknoi

My blogs

About me

Gender Male
Industry Education
Occupation Emeritus Chair, Astronomy Department, Foothill College
Location California, United States
Introduction I recently retired as a professor of astronomy at Foothill College, near San Francisco and am now teaching short courses for retired people at the University of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. I also work with the non-profit Astronomical Society of the Pacific (where I served as Executive Director for 14 years). I teach classes on astronomy and "physics for poets" with over 900 students per year. Some of my other activities include founding and editing the on-line journal "Astronomy Education Review," being the lead author on a college-level astronomy textbook (Voyages through the Universe,) and appearing on local and national radio from time to time explaining astronomical developments in everyday language. I also wrote a children's book entitled "Disney's Wonderful World of Space." I organize and moderate the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, which has its YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube,com/svastronomylectures Back in 2007, I was deeply honored to be selected as Professor of the Year for the state of California by the Carnegie Endowment for Higher Education.
Interests science education, astronomy, music and astronomy, science fiction, training young astronomers in education and outreach
Favorite Music Mahler's 8th Symphony; the music of Jean Sibelius; musicals by Stephen Sondheim