Description
The Science Shelf is a space where visiting scientists from the Aspen Center for Physics open up about the books that have shaped their lives and careers. From foundational texts to unexpected favorites, hear their personal stories and the knowledge that sparked their discoveries. Explore the world of science through the eyes of those who live it, one book at a time.

Featured guest:

Ryan Foley

Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz

Professor Ryan Foley is an astronomer who uses telescopes on Earth and in space to study the cosmos, focusing on stellar explosions, black holes, dark energy, and gravitational waves. He earned his PhD from UC Berkeley in 2008 and is currently an Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz. He is a Clay, Sloan, Kavli, and Packard fellow.

Professor Foley led the team that discovered the first optical counterpart to a gravitational wave source, which was deemed the “Science Breakthrough of the Year” in 2017. He lives by the ocean and tries to go to the beach every day. Professor Foley’s partner grew up in Woody Creek, and they spend several weeks every year in Aspen enjoying its nature, culture, and community.