Amir Siraj
{{Short description|American astrophysicist}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name =
| image =
| alt =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|2000}}{{cite news| title=17-year-old Brookline boy wins Presidential Scholar in the Arts award|url=https://www.boston25news.com/news/17-year-old-brookline-boy-wins-presidential-scholar-in-the-arts-award/521697831/e|work=Boston 25 News |date= 11 May 2017|access-date=31 August 2023}}
| birth_place = USA{{cite news| title=This Land/Our Land: A interview with 17-year-old pianist Amir Siraj|url=https://fromthetop.org/thisland-amir-siraj/ |work=From The Top |date=2 July 2017|access-date=17 January 2023}}
| education = AB, Harvard University, 2022
AM, Harvard University, 2022
MM, New England Conservatory of Music, 2023
| alma_mater = Harvard University, New England Conservatory of Music, Princeton University
| occupation = Astrophysicist, Pianist
| years_active =
| known_for = Interstellar objects{{cite web| title=Research Team |url=https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo/people|access-date=31 August 2023}}
| awards = Forbes 30 Under 30
| doctoral_advisor =
| fields = Astrophysics, Music
| website = https://siraj.scholar.princeton.edu/
}}
Amir Siraj (born in 2000) is an American astrophysicist, pianist, and science and music communicator.
Career
= Astrophysics =
Siraj earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Harvard University,{{Cite web |title=Amir Siraj |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/amir-siraj/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Forbes |language=en}} and is currently pursuing his PhD at Princeton University.{{Cite web |title=Amir Siraj |url=https://web.astro.princeton.edu/people/amir-siraj |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Department of Astrophysical Sciences |language=en}} His research is primarily focused on interstellar objects,{{Cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Caitlin |date=2022-04-15 |title=U.S. Space Command confirms interstellar meteor hit Earth |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-interstellar-meteor-to-hit-earth-solar-system-space-command/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tomaswick |first=Andy |date=2022-11-11 |title=We'll Inevitably see Another Interstellar Object. Which Ones Make the Best Targets to Visit? |url=https://www.universetoday.com/158609/well-inevitably-see-another-interstellar-object-which-ones-make-the-best-targets-to-visit/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}} asteroids and comets,{{Cite web |last=Karlis |first=Nicole |date=2021-02-17 |title=Why some scientists think a comet, not an asteroid, caused the dinosaurs to go extinct |url=https://www.salon.com/2021/02/17/why-some-scientists-think-a-comet-not-an-asteroid-caused-the-dinosaurs-to-go-extinct/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Salon |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Kramer |first=Miriam |date=August 24, 2021 |title=Interstellar objects are everywhere |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/08/24/interstellar-comets-asteroids-common-solar-system |access-date=January 17, 2024 |work=Axios}} planetary system formation and evolution,{{Cite web |date=2020-08-20 |title=Did the Sun have a twin? New study rewrites the star's early history |url=https://www.inverse.com/science/long-lost-twin-sun-study |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Inverse |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gough |first=Evan |date=2021-09-09 |title=Protoplanetary Disks Throw Out More Material Than Gets Turned Into Planets |url=https://www.universetoday.com/152468/protoplanetary-disks-throw-out-more-material-than-gets-turned-into-planets/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}} supernovae,{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Charlie |date=2020-04-30 |title=Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel |url=https://www.popsci.com/story/space/moon-pelted-with-star-shrapnel/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Popular Science |language=en-US}} black holes,{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Jamie |title=Is 'Planet Nine' Actually A Black Hole In The Solar System? There's Only One Way To Find Out |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/06/03/is-planet-nine-actually-a-black-hole-in-the-solar-system-theres-only-one-way-to-find-out/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}} dark matter,{{Cite news |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |date=2020-09-11 |title=Is There a Black Hole in Our Backyard? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/science/astronomy-planet-nine-black-hole.html |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and the search for life in the universe.{{Cite web |last=Tillman |first=Nola Taylor |date=2020-01-22 |title=Interstellar Visitors Could Export Terrestrial Life to Other Stars |url=http://eos.org/articles/interstellar-visitors-could-export-terrestrial-life-to-other-stars |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Eos |language=en-US}} Recently, he proposed the existence of unseen captured planets in the outer Solar System.{{Cite web |last=Ferreira |first=Becky |title=Stolen planet could be hiding on the edge of our solar system |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2408968-stolen-planet-could-be-hiding-on-the-edge-of-our-solar-system/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tognetti |first=Laurence |date=2023-12-31 |title=How Many Planets Could Be in the Kuiper Belt? |url=https://www.universetoday.com/165014/how-many-planets-could-be-in-the-kuiper-belt/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michelle |date=2024-01-10 |title=There Could Be Alien, Mars-Sized Planets Lurking Beyond Pluto |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/there-could-be-alien-mars-sized-planets-lurking-beyond-pluto |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=ScienceAlert |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Deepa |date=2024-01-16 |title=5 Earth-like worlds may lurk in the outer reaches of the solar system, simulations suggest |url=https://www.livescience.com/space/exoplanets/5-earth-like-worlds-may-lurk-in-the-outer-reaches-of-the-solar-system-simulations-suggest |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=livescience.com |language=en}} He discovered CNEOS 2014-01-08,{{Cite journal |last1=Siraj |first1=Amir |last2=Loeb |first2=Abraham |title=A Meteor of Apparent Interstellar Origin in the CNEOS Fireball Catalog |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |date=2022 |volume=939 |issue=1 |page=53 |doi=10.3847/1538-4357/ac8eac|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022ApJ...939...53S }} the first known interstellar meteor,{{cite news |last=Pultarova |first=Tereza |title=Confirmed! A 2014 meteor is Earth's 1st known interstellar visitor – Interstellar space rocks might be falling to Earth every 10 years. |url=https://www.space.com/2014-meteor-first-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua |date=3 November 2022 |work=Space.com |access-date=4 November 2022 }}{{Cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=2022-04-15 |title=Military Memo Deepens Possible Interstellar Meteor Mystery |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/15/science/interstellar-meteor-debate.html |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and as the director of interstellar object studies at the Galileo project, is involved with the search and discovery mission for interstellar objects. His research was named one of CNN's extraordinary cosmic revelations and moments in space exploration in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Ashley Strickland, Jackie |date=2022-12-27 |title=2022's extraordinary cosmic revelations and moments in space exploration |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/27/world/year-in-space-discoveries-moments-scn/index.html |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=CNN |language=en}} He was the youngest scientist named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021,{{Cite web |title=Forbes 30 Under 30 2021: Science |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2021/science/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Forbes}} and Astronomy magazine named him a rising star in astronomy in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Lucchesi |first=Emilie Le Beau |date=2022-11-03 |title=Rising star in astronomy: Amir Siraj |url=https://www.astronomy.com/science/rising-star-in-astronomy-amir-siraj/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Astronomy Magazine |language=en-US}} He also contributes to Scientific American.{{Cite web |title=Stories by Amir Siraj |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/amir-siraj/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}
= Music =
An active concert pianist,{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=On music and the universe: Advice from a Cliburn Junior alum - and now, an astrophysicist |url=https://www.keranews.org/arts-culture/2023-05-15/on-music-and-the-universe-advice-from-cliburn-junior-alum-and-astrophysicist |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=KERA News |language=en}} Siraj is a Young Steinway Artist{{Cite web |title=Soundboard — Amir Siraj - Steinway & Sons |url=https://www.steinway.com/soundboard/soundboard-amir-siraj |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=www.steinway.com |language=en}} and US Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a master's degree in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Recital: Amir Siraj '23 MM, Piano {{!}} New England Conservatory |url=https://necmusic.edu/events/recital-amir-siraj-23-mm-piano |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=necmusic.edu |language=en}} He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma at UNESCO and the United Nations General Assembly.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Creating the Future: Amir Siraj '23 MM Performs with Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax in Paris {{!}} New England Conservatory |url=https://necmusic.edu/news/creating-future-amir-siraj-23-mm-performs-yo-yo-ma-and-emanuel-ax-paris |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=necmusic.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2022 |title=UNESCO welcomes the acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-welcomes-acclaimed-cellist-yo-yo-ma |access-date=January 17, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=The Halftime Show: Song, stories, and solutions {{!}} UN Office for Partnerships |url=https://unpartnerships.un.org/news/2023/halftime-show-song-stories-and-solutions,%20https://unpartnerships.un.org/news/2023/halftime-show-song-stories-and-solutions |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=unpartnerships.un.org |language=en}} He played at the Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Awards for Justin Trudeau,{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Amanda |title=SoftBank CEO Parties With Smart Robots During UN GA Week |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-21/softbank-ceo-parties-with-robots-during-united-nations-ga-week?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2024-01-18 |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=21 September 2017 }} as well as at the GRAMMY Salute to Classical Music at Carnegie Hall,{{Cite web |title=Amir Siraj performs on stage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards -... |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/amir-siraj-performs-on-stage-during-the-60th-annual-grammy-news-photo/910830314 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Getty Images |date=27 January 2018 |language=en-us}} at The Cliburn{{Cite web |last=Prejean |first=Jeanne |date=2019-01-10 |title=JUST IN: The Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition And Festival Is Coming To Dallas And Tickets Just Went On Sale |url=https://mysweetcharity.com/2019/01/just-in-the-cliburn-international-junior-piano-competition-and-festival-is-coming-to-dallas-and-tickets-just-went-on-sale/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=My Sweet Charity |language=en-US}} and at the opening concert for the Swiss Alps Classics.{{Cite web |title=Media & Press |url=https://www.swissalpsclassics.ch/en/media-press/archive/2021/media-2021/sac-pressemitteilung-3.6.2021/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Swiss Alps Classics |language=en}}
At the Aspen Center for Physics, he moderated a panel discussion that brought top composers and physicists together in conversation.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-11 |title=Aspen Center for Physics: physicists Lisa Randall and Vijay Balasubramanian in conversation with composer Chris Theofanidis and John Luther Adams on music, science & creativity |url=https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/ideas-speakers-lectures/2023-08-10/aspen-center-for-physics-award-winning-physicists-lisa-randall-and-vijay-balasubramanian-in-conversation-with-grammy-winning-composer-chris-theofanidis-on-music-science-creativity |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Aspen Public Radio |language=en}} In partnership with the National Park Foundation and From the Top, he established Music For The Parks.{{Cite web |title=The Musical Inspiration of National Parks |url=https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/musical-inspiration-national-parks |access-date=January 17, 2024 |website=National Park Foundation}}{{Cite web |last=MacCurtain |first=Erin |date=2020-08-05 |title=Alumni Leadership Grant Spotlight: Music for the Parks |url=https://fromthetop.org/alumni-leadership-grant-spotlight-music-for-the-parks/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=From the Top}}
References
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Category:Harvard University alumni