Dr. Jeffrey Hall
Astronomer, Lowell Observatory
Presenter – Dark Skies: Why and How
Jeffrey Hall has served as Director of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, since June 2010. He joined the staff at Lowell in 1992 as a postdoctoral research fellow. He received a B. A. in Physics in 1986 from Johns Hopkins and a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics in 1991 from Penn State. His research at Lowell has focused on solar and stellar activity cycles, with the goal of lending an astronomical perspective to solar influences on terrestrial climate. He presently serves as a member of Flagstaff’s leadership group, the Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance, and is former President of the Governing Board of Northland Preparatory Academy as well as of the Board of Directors of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. His principal avocation is music, and he has been the substitute organist at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Flagstaff for 20 years
Dr. David Koerner
Northern Arizona University
Performer – Music under the Stars
Dr. David Koerner observes planet-forming disks around other stars with space- and ground-based telescopes. He originated and regularly teaches “Life in the Universe,” a liberal studies course at Northern Arizona University that investigates the scientific picture of our origins and existence in the universe at large,. He is also an accomplished musician. As pianist, he performed extensively in the Southern California area; as vilest and violinist, he currently performs with Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Northern Arizona. Dr. Koerner lives north of the peaks and off the grid with his partner and a sled dog team of Alaskan malamutes.
Dr. Tyler Robinson
Astronomer, Northern Arizona University
Presenter – Exoplanets: Weird and Wonderful Worlds
Tyler Robinson is a professor at Northern Arizona University where he works with students and other scientists to understand worlds orbiting other stars. He is a card-carrying astrobiologist who has worked with NASA to design space telescope concepts that would be capable of finding life on Earth-like exoplanets. When Tyler isn’t thinking about distant planets, he can often be found running trails around Flagstaff or enjoying a labored-over cup of home-brewed coffee.
Brian Skiff
Research Scientist, Lowell Observatory
Presenter – Sunset Shadows and Circles; Night Sky Orientation
Brian has been a research assistant and observer at Lowell Observatory for over 40 years. He has participated in asteroid discovery and science and studies of Sun -like stars: he has spent thousands of nights observing at telescopes, both visually and with astronomical instrumentation. He has discovered over 300 asteroids and twelve comets. He has an abiding interest in “atmospheric optics,” inspired by M. J. G. Minnaert’s classic book “Light and Colour in the Open Air,” and has been chasing rainbows, halos and earth shadows for decades. Brian is also co-author of the “Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep Sky Objects,” a standard reference for amateur astronomers.
Rich Krueger
Astronomy/ Physics Teacher at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy
Presenter – From Earth to Sky, A Binocular Circle
Rich is recognized for his energy and leadership in his own classroom, our community, and beyond. In 2015, Rich was selected to fly on NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, and in 2017 he took students to Madras, Oregon for the Great American Eclipse. The students hosted a public star party and led authentic science experiments. Rich currently teaches science, engineering and astronomy at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy and instructs engineering science for CAVIAT. He also co-founded and helps coach two award-winning robotics teams.