Back
Maria Teresa Ruíz
Professor Emeritus
Training and contact
Bachelor of Science in Astronomy, 1971, University of Chile, and Ph.D. in Astrophysics, 1975, Princeton University, USA. In 1976, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste, Italy, and between 1977 and 1979 was a visiting astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She received the National Prize for Exact Sciences in 1997.
Research Topics:White Dwarfs, Near Stars, Star Clusters.
Area of interest
Stars, late stages of stellar evolution (White Dwarfs, Planetary Nebulae, Supernova Remnants), photo-ionized nebulae, low-mass stars, Brown Dwarfs, and Exoplanets. Popularizing Astronomy.
Biography
Since 1980, she has been a Full Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (FCFM) of the University of Chile. Since 2008, she has been the Director of the Center of Excellence in Astrophysics and Associated Technologies (CATA). She is the President of the Higher Commission for Academic Evaluation at the University of Chile. Since 1997, she has been a full member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Chile, and from 2016 to 2019, she served as its President. From 2000 to 2004, she was the Director of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Chile. She participates in numerous national and international boards and committees related to science, education, and culture.
Courses, Projects, Recent Publications
- 1996 Presidential Chair in Science
- 1997 National Prize for Exact Sciences
- 1997 Rectoral Medal and the Amanda Labarca Decoration
- 2000 Guggenheim Fellowship
- 2005 Honorary Member of the American Astronomical Society
- 2013 Advancement of Women Award (Scotiabank)
- 2013 ZONTA Woman Award
- 2017 L’Oreal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” Award for Latin America
- 2019 Honorary Doctorate from Universidad Central
- 2020 Decoration of the “National Order of the Legion of Honour” (France)
