Curriculum Vitae

Pedro Miguel Rodrigues dos Santos Russo

Pedro Russo Photo

Personal Information

Address:Leiden Observatory / J.H. Oort Building, Niels Bohrweg 2 / NL-2333 CA Leiden, The Netherlands
E-mail: russo@strw.leidenuniv.nl
Telephone: +31 6 54 37 26 58
Nationality: Portuguese

Work Experience


2011 - present: Leiden Observatory/Leiden University, the Netherlands
EU Universe Awareness International Project Manager

2007 - 2010: International Year of Astronomy 2009 Secretariat, Garching bei München, Germany
(ESO Education and Public Outreach Department / International Astronomical Union / UNESCO)
International Year of Astronomy 2009 Coordinator / Outreach Scientist

2000 - 2006: Navegar Foundation, Espinho, Portugal
Astronomer.
Content Research, Development and Production Department Coordinator.

1999 - 2000: Porto Planetarium, Porto, Portugal
Astronomy communicator.

1998: European Youth Science Meeting, Coimbra, Portugal
Logistics Coordinator

1998: Universal Exhibition Lisbon 98, Portugal
Volunteer at the Utopia Pavilion.

Education

2006: Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany
International Max Planck Research School on Physical Processes in the Solar System and Beyond at the Universities of Braunschweig and Göttingen.
PhD Research thesis: Vertical structures of the Venus cloud tops and the nature of the ultraviolet absorber.

2005: Faculty of Sciences, Porto University, Portugal
Master in Geophysics
Research thesis: Thermal Inertia and Surface Properties of Mars.

2004: Faculty of Sciences, Porto University, Portugal
Diploma of Advanced Studies in Geophysics.

2003: Faculty of Sciences, Porto University, Portugal
Licenciatura (4 years degree) in Physics/Applied Mathematics (Astronomy).

Research Interests

2006 - 2008: Planetary atmospheres.
2005 : Faraday Waves in Zero Gravity.
2004 - 2006: Mars Atmospherical, Geophysical and Exobiological Characterisation.
2004 - 2005: Early Universe Gamma Ray Burst Detection.
2002 - 2003: Chemistry Model for Life Origin.
1999 - Present: Astronomy Education and Public Outreach

Awards

2011: American Association for the Advancement of Science - Science Magazine SPORE Award for Universe Awareness
2010: Portuguese National Multimedia Award with the TV show 1 Minute of Astronomy
2010: Honorable Mention with the project Science Office in the National Prize for Creative Industries 2010 with Luis Calçada, Nuno Esteves and Mariana Barrosa
2009: Seeds of Science 2009: Special Prize.
2005: Portuguese Physics Association Award for the Research Work: Thermal Inertia and Surface Properties of Mars.

Selected Talks

Selected Conferences and Workshops Participation

Committee and Public Service Work

Educational Experience

Qualifications and Skills

Biography

Pedro Russo is presently the International Project Manager (IPM) of the FP7 EU Universe Awareness project. He is passionately committed to using astronomy as an educational tool. Pedro is Chair of the Schools and Children Task Force of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Astronomy for Development programme and Vice President of Commission Communicating Astronomy with the Public of the International Astronomical Inion. Until 2010 he was the global coordinator for the largest network ever in Science Outreach, the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Pedro coordinated the planning, implementation, execution and evaluation of the global IYA2009 activities, projects and events. He was also responsible for the communication between the thousands of stakeholders of the project, including projects and national chairs, astronomy community, media and society with respect to all global IYA2009 issues. Pedro obtained his University degree in applied mathematics/physics/astronomy and his Master’s Degree in geophysics from the University of Porto, Portugal. Before assuming his current position, he spent one year and half working with data from the Venus Monitoring Camera onboard ESA’s Venus Express. In the meanwhile he has been working with different international organisations, like Europlanet (European Planetology Network), International Astronomical Union Commission 55: Communicating Astronomy with the Public, European Geophysical Union - Earth and Space Science Informatics Division and International Astronautical Federation -Space and Society Committee. At the European Southern Observatory in Munich Pedro was outreach scientist of the educational and public outreach department. Pedro is also the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal.