Dr. Aomawa Shields
Astronomer, Astrobiologist, Actor, & Author
- Redondo Beach Monday, April 12, 2027 at 7:30 pm
- Thousand Oaks Tuesday, April 20, 2027 at 7:30 pm
- Pasadena Date TBD
- Long Beach Thursday, April 22, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Clare Boothe Luce Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. An expert on the climate and habitability of Earth-size planets orbiting low-mass stars, she is at the forefront of research on exoplanet atmospheres, climate modeling, and the search for life beyond Earth. Her work has been supported by the National Science Foundation CAREER award, NASA’s Habitable Worlds and Exoplanets Research Programs, and the Heising-Simons Foundation. A Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and a 2015 TED Fellow, Dr. Shields also received the 2025 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), one of the nation’s highest honors for early-career researchers.
With nearly 6,000 planets discovered beyond our solar system, humanity is closer than ever to answering the question, “Are we alone in the universe?” Yet many unknowns remain. Dr. Shields’ research explores the complex factors that shape planetary climates and determine habitability, using advanced modeling techniques to identify worlds most capable of supporting life. In her talk, she brings audiences inside this cutting-edge science while making it accessible, vivid, and deeply engaging.
Blending science with storytelling, Dr. Shields draws on her background in theater to communicate complex ideas in innovative ways. Her TED Talk, “How We’ll Find Life on Other Planets,” has reached more than 1.8 million viewers worldwide, and her TED-Ed work introduces young audiences to the possibilities of life beyond Earth. She is also the founder and director of Rising Stargirls, a program that empowers girls of all backgrounds to explore science through theater, writing, and visual art.
Dr. Shields’ path to success has been anything but conventional. One of the few Black women in a predominantly white, male field—and the 126th Black woman to earn a PhD in physics and astronomy—she initially left science after facing discouragement, pursuing a career in acting before ultimately returning to complete her doctorate. Her journey, along with her commitment to equity and inclusion in STEM, has been featured in books such as Changing the Equation and The Portfolio Life.
In her memoir, Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe (2023), Dr. Shields reflects on her personal and professional journey, sharing insights into resilience, identity, and belonging. She is the proud mother of first grader and rising stargirl Garland-Rose, who she and husband Steven have deemed the most extraordinary lifeform in their universe.
In her Distinguished Speaker Series appearance, she weaves together excerpts from her memoir with her groundbreaking research, offering a powerful, multidimensional perspective on discovery—both in the cosmos and within ourselves.