Steward Observatory’s Marcia Rieke wins prestigious award for her influential career in astronomical research
Regents’ Professor Marcia Rieke is the recipient of this year’s Russell Lectureship, which honors a full career of eminence is astronomical research.
This week, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) granted the 2025 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship to Steward Observatory’s Regents Professor of Astronomy Marcia Rieke. The award is among the biggest honors offered by the AAS, celebrating a full career of eminence in astronomical research. In particular, Dr. Rieke is being recognized for her fundamental contributions to infrared astronomy in space and on the ground, especially in the construction of JWST and its NIRCAM instrument. Rieke is also recognized for her observations of galaxies and their active nuclei in the local and distant universe, and for her national leadership in decadal planning and other policy activities.
Rieke came to the University of Arizona in 1976 and has made seminal contributions to infrared astronomy. Her contributions to astronomical research, to instrument development and to service to the astronomical community in public policy and outreach are recognized internationally. "We are so grateful that Marcia chose to spend her career as part of our community at the University of Arizona,” says Buell Jannuzi, Director of Steward Observatory & Head of the U of A Department of Astronomy. “She is not just a tremendously gifted and accomplished scientist, but has been a tremendous leader and mentor for all of us at Steward Observatory and the Department of Astronomy."
Rieke has made a lasting impact on our understanding of the universe, in particular through her role as Principal Investigator on NIRCam, a key instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). In the years since the telescope began scientific operations, NIRCam has both reinforced and challenged the understanding of the early universe.
On receiving this award honoring her influential career, Rieke says: "The last 25 years of my career have been spent working on the James Webb Space Telescope, and receiving a prize like this honors not only me, but also the thousands of people that made the mission happen for which I'm extremely grateful."