University of Arizona professor Chris Impey named Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Dr. Chris Impey, distinguished professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona, has been selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for Denmark for the 2027–2028 academic year.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, administered by the Institute of International Education, offers competitive fellowships for scholars to teach and conduct research abroad. The program is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious academic honors, with alumni including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows.
Dr. Chris Impey, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona.
Through his Fulbright award, Impey will travel to Denmark to collaborate with Dr. Johan Fynbo at the University of Copenhagen. His work abroad will focus on advancing science education and science communication through several initiatives, including teaching an in-person course for University of Copenhagen students, sharing research on best practices in teaching, and developing a massive open online course (MOOC) designed for adult learners.
Impey will also explore new approaches to informal science outreach and public engagement, using Denmark as a platform to connect with broader audiences through creative educational programming and online learning opportunities. Alongside these efforts, he will continue his astronomical research in collaboration with Fynbo, working to better understand quasars and the role of supermassive black holes in galaxy evolution.
At the University of Arizona, Impey is internationally recognized for his work in astronomy research, science education, and public engagement. He has published more than 450 scholarly articles across astronomy and education, and his work has been supported by more than $20 million in grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
In addition to his research accomplishments, Impey is widely known for his contributions to teaching and science communication. He has received eleven teaching awards and has taught four online courses that collectively enrolled more than 420,000 learners worldwide, generating more than 8 million minutes of video lectures viewed. He is a past Vice President of the American Astronomical Society and recipient of the society’s Career Education Prize. His honors also include recognition as an NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar, Carnegie Foundation Arizona Professor of the Year, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor.
Impey is also a prolific science writer and communicator. He has authored more than 120 popular articles on cosmology, astrobiology, and education, along with two textbooks, a novel titled Shadow World, and ten popular science books, including Beyond: The Future of Space Travel, Einstein’s Monsters: The Life and Times of Black Holes, and Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability and the Future of Humanity. His upcoming book, Recipe for a Universe: Cosmic Chemistry from the Big Bang to You, continues his efforts to make complex scientific ideas accessible to broad audiences.
To learn more about Dr. Impey and his research and outreach efforts, click here.
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Internal support is available for prospective Fulbright Scholar and Specialist applicants. For more information, please contact Danielle Barefoot, dbarefoot@arizona.edu, Associate for International Research Development and the University’s Fulbright Scholar Liaison.