2025 Jansky Lecturer: Dr. Jean Turner

The NRAO is pleased to award the 2025 Karl G. Jansky Lectureship to Dr. Jean Turner, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Research Professor, University of California, Los Angeles. The Jansky Lectureship is an honor established by the trustees of AUI to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions to the advancement of radio astronomy.

Jean Turner earned her A.B. from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. Prior to joining the faculty at UCLA, she conducted research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and held visiting scientist positions at Caltech, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and the Joint ALMA Observatory.

In addition to her observational work, Jean played a key role in the development and commissioning of two major millimeter and submillimeter facilities: the Hat Creek Millimeter Interferometer and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Jean is recognized for her groundbreaking research in radio astronomy, with a focus on star formation, molecular clouds, and the interstellar medium. Her work has advanced our understanding of the structure and dynamics of star-forming regions in both the Milky Way and nearby galaxies through high-resolution radio and millimeter-wave observations.

A central theme of her research is the study of super star clusters and compact, energetic sites of massive star formation. Her investigations of galaxies such as NGC 5253—using instruments like ALMA—have shed light on how massive stars and clusters form in dense, dust-enshrouded environments. Her detailed analysis of ionized and molecular gas, along with dust properties, has provided key insights into the earliest stages of star and galaxy evolution.

Moreover, Jean has significantly advanced the use of molecular tracers to probe dense gas and the conditions that foster efficient star formation. Her pioneering application of interferometric techniques has enabled precise mapping of gas dynamics and structure, refining our models of how massive stars shape their environments. Alongside her scientific contributions, she is a dedicated mentor and a leader in major observational efforts, firmly establishing her as a prominent figure in contemporary radio astronomy.

The lecture title will be Exploring the Dusty Origins of Star Clusters.