Erika Hamden
Astrophysicist | Pioneering Telescope Design for the Universe
About
Erika Hamden is an astrophysicist and the founder of FIREBall, a cutting-edge telescope that observes the faint ultraviolet light from the cosmic web. As an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, her research focuses on developing new technologies to study the evolution of galaxies.
Hamden's work has been featured in National Geographic and she has given popular TED Talks on the future of space exploration. Her keynotes inspire audiences with the wonders of the universe and the innovative spirit required to unlock its mysteries.
Talks1
What it takes to launch a telescope
TED Fellow and astronomer Erika Hamden leads the team building FIREBall, a telescope that hangs from a giant balloon at the very edge of space and looks for clues about how stars are created. She takes us inside the roller-coaster, decade-long journey to get the telescope from an idea into orbit -- and shows how failure is inevitable when you're pushing the limits of knowledge.
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