yerkes observatory executive director yerkes observatory executive director

My wife and I got married at Yerkes, had a son, and now I work here. Bill received his MBA from DePaul University. Our mantra of "Nine to Ninety" means that we strive to have nine year olds, ninety year olds, and everyone in between have experiences here that are uplifting and entertaining. [65] Although it does not have a high-altitude as preferred by modern observatories, it does have a lot of good weather, and was a considerable distance from the light and pollution of the City of Chicago. Hales ideas about astronomy, observatories, and architecture would culminate in the creation of Yerkes Observatory housing the world's largest refracting telescope and the 12-inch refractor from Hales youth. He is involved with various community organizations, including Boy Scouts. In a unanimous vote, the Yerkes Future Foundation Board of Directors appointed Mr. Kois to serve as the Observatory's new executive director following an extensive national search led by Koya Leadership Partners, a national leader in executive placement for non-profit institutions. He was a social reformer and the first pillar of American landscape architecture. The facility has hosted scores of influential and groundbreaking researchers over its 123 years. Dianna Colman, board president of YFF, said, "We are deeply committed to preserving the rich scientific history of Yerkes Observatory and unlocking its potential to contribute to research and education on a global scale. [13], By 1905, the largest telescope in the World was the Harvard 60-inch Reflector ( 1.524 m 60) at Harvard College Observatory, USA. Experience in facilities management will be helpful but is not required. Chuck received his BA from Bradley University and studied at the Department of Defense Information School. includes work on the interstellar medium, globular cluster formation, infrared astronomy, and near-Earth objects. Additionally, the ED will be responsible for interpreting the 48 acres of Olmsted designed grounds for programming, events and public use. [83][62] The visually remarkable extremely long tubes and elaborate domes and mounts provided an egg of knowledge that astronomers and the public flocked to for knowledge about the stars. Executive Director Yerkes Observatory Mar 2021 - Present2 years 2 months Wisconsin, United States Executive Director Burchfield Penney Art Center Apr 2019 - Mar 20212 years Buffalo, New. A major contemporary for the Yerkes was the well regarded 36-inch Lick refractor in California. ; Sixty-Inch Reflector, Biggest in the World, Being Set Up. Your participation means everything. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). [79] Then in 1908, Mount Wilson Observatory matched that size with a 60-inch reflector of their own, and throughout the 20th century, increasingly larger reflectors would be established, aided also by refinements to mirror technology vapor-deposited aluminum on low-thermal expansion glass, pioneered for the 200 inch (5 meter) Hale telescope of 1948. Whether you are planning a corporate retreat or organizing a private party, Yerkes Observatory's botanical splendor, historic architectural spaces, and thoughtful staff provide a special atmosphere for any occasion. She brings a lot of experience from her leadership roles in science, communications and astronomy. In the 1890s various forces came together to establish an observatory of art, science, and superlative instruments in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. You have permission to edit this article. A graduate of Northern Michigan University, Jana has a degree in Secondary Education English. Ornate stonework in the entrance of the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wis. greets visitors Wednesday, June 10, 2020. I get goosebumps every day at work. Proven fundraising experience is highly desired. "I believe the dynamic YFF board and devoted community of supporters around Geneva Lake can secure Yerkes' position as a platform for ongoing scientific researcheven as we find new ways of growing public understanding of astronomy and build scientific literacy. In operation since 1897, ownership of the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay was transferred last month from the University of Chicago to the Yerkes Future Foundation, which has plans to raise $20 million for its renovation and operations. See the back-of-house infrastructure of Henry Ives Cobb's masterpiece of Beaux Arts and Romanesque design. [68], The original landscape plan was not completed by the 1897 dedication, and there was grading and construction of gravel roads under direction of the Olmstead design as late as 1908.[69][70]. Williams Bay, WI 53191. Im really excited to start public viewing sessions with children so they can see the wonders of the universe in real life.. Kate is also a community volunteer and serves on various boards. Jeff is the CFO at Precision Plus. president and CEO of the Milwaukee Public Museum, executive director of the prestigious deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in, and most recently, executive director of the renowned Burchfield Penney Art Center in. Mr. Kois, a Wisconsin native, is an honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) with a bachelor's degree in museum design. It is so exciting to becreating something that doesnt yet exist anywhere in the world: a center for science and big ideas bringing researchers, artists, writers, poets, photographers, astronomers, and composers together to help us understand the universe and our own place init. Yerkes Future Foundation executive director Dennis Kois appeared before the Williams Bay Village Board on Oct. 17 to provide his annual update on news at the reopened and refurbished Yerkes, 373 W. Geneva St. Yerkes Observatory was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from 1897-2018. My favorite astronomer ever to study at Yerkes is Edwin Hubble. Want to see if you can help us with your time as a volunteer? The mission of the Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF) is to preserve and protect Yerkes Observatory, celebrate its history and continue to foster its goals of research, education and astronomical observation. Installation of a lift, meanwhile, will make Yerkes main floor available handicap-accessible for the first time. The mounting and tube for the 40-inch telescope was exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago before being installed in the observatory. The facility is also home to laboratories, a machine shop and a vault that holds thousands of glass-plate images of stars, planets and distant solar systems. Naval Observatory's 26 inch, which would go on to discover the moons of Mars in 1877, there was an extraordinary increase of larger telescopes in finely furnished observatories in the late 1800s. Yerkes Future Foundation committee members Chuck Ebeling, left, Dianna Colman, center, and Frank Bonifacic gather in the ornate lobby of the 1890s-era Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wis. Wednesday, June 10, 2020. YFF, led by a board comprised of local volunteers, assumed ownership for the Observatory in May, 2020. Peter received his BA from Harvard University. Restorations, renovations and enhancements of Yerkes historic facility this year include new bathrooms, floor and marble wall restorations, new roofing, and the installation of 80 rooftop solar panels, as well as two parking lot electric vehicle charging stations. Mr. Kois and his fiance, Kelly Gauthier, a project management leader for the University of Wisconsin system, have five children between them ranging in age from 3 to 15 years. About 70 homes were to be developed on the upper Yerkes property surrounding the historic observatory. WILLIAMS BAY, Wis., Feb. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yerkes Observatory, the birthplace of modern astrophysics and home of the world's largest refracting telescope, today announced the appointment of its new executive director. Notable astronomers who conducted research at Yerkes include Albert Michelson,[47] Edwin Hubble (who did his graduate work at Yerkes and for whom the Hubble Space Telescope was named), Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (for whom the Chandra Space Telescope was named), Ukrainian-American astronomer Otto Struve,[3] Dutch-American astronomer Gerard Kuiper (noted for theorizing the Kuiper belt, home to dwarf planet Pluto), If we want new generations of diverse scientists ready to address the big challenges of the future, enchanting beacons like Yerkes must thrive to attract and inspire them.". Stay tuned!. Bed Bath & Beyond introduced its oversized coupon for 20% off a single item three decades ago. [13] Glass lens telescopes had a good reputation compared to speculum metal and silver on glass mirror telescopes, which had not quite proven themselves in the 1890s. The report recommended creating a formal business plan to ensure the financial viability of the proposed science education center, establishing ownership of the proposed center before initiating plans for creating it, and forming a partnership between the University of Chicago and local interests to plan for the center. [58], In 2022, the site was re-opened to visitors. Mr. Kois' appointment marks a milestone in realizing the Observatory's ambitious expansion plan, which began when the Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF) secured ownership of the Observatory from the University of Chicago in 2020. He is retired and serves on various community boards. He was previously deputy chief for environmental enforcement for the Illinois Attorney Generals office and is a former criminal prosecutor. [33] The telescope was mounted on custom designed equatorial, the result of collaboration between Yerkes and Warner & Swasey, especially designed to offer an uninterrupted tracking for long image exposures. Cmon, were Cosmos Mariners!. Our community has the chance to build on the observatory's 124-year legacy of groundbreaking scientific research, discoveries, and educationand to share one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets with new generations of explorers across the globe,"said Mr. Kois. [10][11] In the years following its establishment, the bar was set and tried to be exceeded; an even larger demonstration refractor, the Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900, was exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900. In May 1921, Albert Einstein visited Yerkes Observatory. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. in the entire cosmos. And now we look to you to help it thrive anew. An unidentified woman feeds ducks and chickens with Yerkes Observatory looming large in the background. Yerkes Observatory, the birthplace of modern astrophysics, is a majestic, iconic building with a rich history of science discovery and education on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Ever.. The Yerkes Observatory, dedicated in 1897, is home to the largest refracting telescope in the world, along with several other working telescopes. And they're getting caught on camera. Another large telescope of this period was the Great Melbourne Telescope, which was a reflector. [45] In 1898 and 1899, Neptune was at opposition. Thanks to those staff, the board and our donors we are well on our way to creating one of the premier scientific and tourism institutions in the region., Kois noted Beaux Arts-styled Yerkes Observatory opened to ticket tours in June for a soft launch, with some 5,000 people having toured the facility to date, the vast majority drawn from outside Walworth County, numbers he called remarkable.. Yerkes Observatory, astronomical observatory located at Williams Bay on Lake Geneva in southeastern Wisconsin, U.S. Size up the Great Refractor telescopeall 63 feet and 20 tons of itso delicately balanced that it can be moved by hand. [53], In March 2018, the University of Chicago announced that it would no longer operate the observatory after October 1, 2018, and would be seeking a new owner. The Yerkes grounds have landscaping designed by Olmstead, for example. I enjoy watching others experience this setting for the first time. During this time, there were many questions about the merits of the various materials used to construct and design telescopes. I am excited that the public (those who have been here and newcomers) will be able to see the Great Refractor at Yerkes in person. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies. [78] The potential of metal coated glass became more apparent A.A. Common's 36 inch reflecting telescope by 1878. Yerkes education and outreach staff formed a nonprofit organization GLAS to continue their programs at another site after the closing. [54] In May 2018, the Yerkes Future Foundation, a group of local residents, submitted an expression of interest to the University of Chicago with a proposal that would seek to maintain public access to the site and continuation of the educational programs. 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I could sit all night long in the Yerkes dome with the 24-inch telescope and gaze at galaxies, nebulae, and clusters. [23] The 'Two foot telescope' used a roughly seven foot long skeleton truss made of aluminum. "I believe the dynamic YFF board and devoted community of supporters around Geneva Lake can secure Yerkes' position as a platform for ongoing scientific researcheven as we find new ways of growing public understanding of astronomy and build scientific literacy. Yerkes has so many moving parts, sleeping parts, and parts were building from scratch. Founded by renowned astronomer George Ellery Hale in 1892, the Observatory's laboratories produced the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera (HAWC) for NASA in 2012. Originally from northern Illinois, Erin now lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two sons. [37] This is noted as a precursor to the founding of the American Astronomical Society, Although dedicated in 1897, it was founded in 1892. Amanda received her PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Texas at Austin studying variations in how galaxies form, how they live their lives, and how they evolve into the diverse array of galaxy species we see today. [32] Solar tower telescopes would be a popular style for solar observatories in the 20th century, and are still used in the 21st century to observe the Sun. [72], *Note the Leviathan of Parsonstown was not used after 1890. The observatory was a center for serious astronomical research for more than 100 years. Stroll the lush grounds, originally designed by the Olmsted firm which created New Yorks Central Park. She and Max spend their time planning their Yerkes wedding and hanging out with their cats, Harvey and Otto. About Yerkes ObservatoryYerkes Observatory is known globally as the birthplace of modern astrophysics and remains the home to the world's largest refracting telescope. For 125 years and counting, Yerkes Observatory has helped shape our understanding of the universe. Located on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, the Observatory houses multiple telescopes still actively used for research in addition to the "Great Refractor," a glass-plate library, and several laboratories surrounded by 50 acres of grounds designed by the legendary firm Olmsted and Olmsted. The appointment is YFF's first significant step to advance a global campaign dedicated to re-envisioning, preserving, and expanding the Observatory. [68] The tree plan design was developed in the 1910s under design from the Olmstead firm and with support of the observatory Director; the grounds included the following types of trees at that time: white fir, yellowwood tree, golden rain tree, European beech, fernleaf beech, Japanese pagoda tree, littleleaf linden, Kentucky coffeetree, ginkgo, cut-leaf beeches, and chestnut trees. [14] In the 1860s Chicago became home of the largest telescope in America, the Dearborn .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}18+12in (47cm) refractor. The beautiful acreage has always fascinated me. Ultimately, Williams Bay's refusal to change the zoning from education to residential caused Mirbeau to abandon its development plans. Erin runs many of the behind-the-scenes systems of Yerkes. The floor can also be raised and lowered to bring people closer to the eye piece. Yerkes Observatory was built in the late 1890s in Wisconsin. Here are the Walworth Countys weekly criminal complaints from April 18 April 24. An off-leash pack of fluffy Goldendoodles has been roaming around Napa Valley, California. Over the 19th century saw a transition in large telescope construction from refractor type to reflector type, with metal-film-coated glass mirrors tending to be used instead of difficult, older-style metal mirrors. Leaders with experience leading a nonprofit organization or related for-profit entity are appealing. Kois, who currently is executive. The stars have forever mystified, fascinated, and inspired us. Will manages our fifty-acre arboretum and the implementation of modern ecological practices on the Olmsted Grounds. In 2020, the University of Chicago transferred idled Yerkes Observatory to the nonprofit Yerkes Future Foundation, which reopened the storied landmark research facility to the public this summer. The observatory was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics [2] [3] from its founding in 1897 to 2018. [41] The past few years have seen astronomical research largely replaced by educational outreach and astronomical tourism activities. Dennis Kois, an arts and sciences executive with more than two decades of experience transforming cultural organizations, will assume the position effective March 8, 2021. Previously, Chuck led communications for McDonalds Corporation and served as an executive with Burson Marsteller agency. Dennis' years of success in elevating cultural and scientific institutions onto the national stage, along with his local roots and profound respect for the history of the Observatory will benefit our community and build support statewide, nationally and internationally for Yerkes' future.". We're looking for guests of all ages, backgrounds, and brains to be profoundly inspired by our tours. [34], The astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard's work with the Bruce telescope, with his niece Mary R. Calvert who worked as his assistant and computer, lead to the publication of a sky atlas using images taken with the instrument, and also a catalog of dark nebulae known as the Barnard catalog. A gift shop will be opened at Yerkes with the new year. [65] The location is noted for a good and pleasant location by Lake Geneva. Dana received her BA from University of Illinois. Walt runs the tours, programs, marketing, web presence, public relations, and overall visitor experience. Yerkes is again becoming a place of learning where those curious about the universe can share their aspirations and develop their contributions to science.. Under the Mirbeau plan, a 100-room resort with a large spa operation and attendant parking and support facilities was to be located on the 9-acre (36,000m2) virgin wooded Yerkes land on the lakeshorethe last such undeveloped, natural site on Geneva Lake's 21mi (34km) shoreline. Every time I head down the driveway into the ellipse and enter the building, I always get a shiver. Unlike anywhere else This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [36], The landscape was designed by the same firm that did New York Central park, the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, and the grounds were noted at one point for having multiple state record trees. Established in 1959, the Vetlesen Prize is one of the highest honors in the earth sciences. [42] This two-dimensional (temperature and luminosity) classification scheme is based on spectral lines sensitive to stellar temperature and surface gravity, which are related to luminosity (the Harvard classification is based on surface temperature). He is also responsible for the care of the fifty-acre arboretum. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Hold your rehearsal dinner in our historic library. This tour highlights the elaborate confection of ornament and order mixed with the ugly, dusty, and unchanged workspaces of 125 years of astronomers.