About the Curator

Michael Shara

Curator, Department of Astrophysics, Division of Physical Sciences

Dr. Shara's principle responsibilities at the Museum are to conduct astronomical research, train astrophysicists, and build space shows and exhibitions. He received his Ph.D. in 1978 from Tel-Aviv University. He holds an M.Sc. and B.Sc. from the University of Toronto. He has been both visiting and adjunct professor at Columbia University, and astronomer with tenure at the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Dr. Shara is a member of the American Astronomical Society, Canadian Astronomical Society, and the International Astronomical Union. He has served on many National Science Foundation and NASA Committees, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern Africa Large Telescope. He curated the Einstein exhibition and as well as several AMNH space-shows seen by millions of people worldwide.
 
Dr. Shara's research interests include the structure and evolution of novae and supernovae; collisions between stars and the remnant descendants of those collisions; and the populations of stars inhabiting star clusters and galaxies. He frequently observes with the Hubble Space Telescope and other large ground-based telescopes. In his spare time he is a gung-ho scuba diver enjoying the company of sharks in the South Pacific.