Awards

Klumpke-Roberts Award

For outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy

The ASP bestows the Klumpke-Roberts Award on those who have made outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy. Awardees include Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, Chesley Bonestell, Timothy Ferris, Walter Sullivan, Heidi Hammel, and the staffs of Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines.

2024 Klumpke-Roberts Award is given to Richard Tresch Fienberg — distinguished astronomer, science communicator, and former Press Officer of the American Astronomical Society — for his contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy.

San Francisco, California- September 16, 2024 - Awarded to an individual or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy, the Klumpke-Roberts Award for 2024 goes to Richard Tresch Fienberg for over 40 years as an advocate for astronomy sharing his passion and enthusiasm through his work and outreach, and for over a decade of dedication educating the public on all things solar eclipse.

Fienberg began his journey in 1968 to pursue a career that would involve something to do with space.  He received a telescope on his 12th birthday and many events — including being riveted by 2001: A Space Odyssey and visiting the set of the original Star Trek series — led him to an academic path in physics and astronomy. While in college he started working at the Jet Propulsion Lab, where he obtained his first taste of space science as an undergraduate intern with NASA’s Viking mission to Mars, working on both the orbiter and lander teams. While working on his master’s degree, he co-authored an article for Sky & Telescope magazine, and while pursuing his doctorate, he realized that he enjoyed teaching and writing about astronomy more than he liked doing research. After completing his PhD, Fienberg joined the staff of Sky & Telescope magazine; of the 22 years he worked there, he served for 8 as Editor in Chief and 9 as President of its parent company. Next came 1 year of teaching astronomy at a private high school followed by 12 years as Press Officer of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).

Fienberg is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; served as President of the International Astronomical Union’s Commission C2, Communicating Astronomy with the Public; and has asteroid 9983 Rickfienberg named in his honor. He is also co-creator of the Galileoscope educational telescope kit designed for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, co-wrote “Build a Sun Funnel” on how to make a solar-observing outreach aid, and co-authored the 5th edition of the book Astronomy for Dummies (Wiley, 2023).

Preparing for the North American solar eclipses of 2017, 2023, and 2024 gave Fienberg the opportunity to share his passion for astronomy with the largest audience ever. An eclipse chaser himself, he spent over a decade helping to lead the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force to educate the public on how to safely and enjoyably view and understand these extraordinary events. Beginning in 2014, Fienberg and an interdisciplinary team of experts developed and disseminated clear and concise eye-safety information. To combat the proliferation of counterfeit and potentially dangerous “eclipse glasses,” Fienberg single-handedly created and maintained an online list of reputable vendors that quickly became the leading reference for where to buy genuinely safe solar viewers. A professional colleague and nominator wrote “He is one of those rare and exquisite humans who is fueled almost exclusively by his desire to make a difference within his area of expertise.”

Fienberg received NASA’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medal in 2018 for his work on solar eclipse safety, which the space agency credited with minimizing eye injuries during the 2017 eclipse across the United States. Even following his retirement in the fall of 2021, he volunteered full time to help prepare the public for the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. And again, his online list of sellers of safe solar viewers proved invaluable in limiting the number of eye injuries. Witnessing the direct impact of Fienberg’s dedication, one nominator expressed how her daughter, a filmmaker, is now inspired to tell stories of science after having spent a significant amount of time documenting his work on the Solar Eclipse Task Force. “His message is what you hope all educators convey: that knowledge and achievement are possible for humans, and that science can be not only advanced, but felt, and those feelings of awe can be the force to propel the next step.”

Join us in celebration of Rick Fienberg’s achievements at the in-person ASP Awards Gala on Saturday, November 9, in Burlingame, CA.

Please contact the Awards team if you have questions about the nomination process