S. D. Benecchi (PhD, MIT) is a senior astronomer at the Planetary Science Institute. Her research focuses on small bodies, often binaries, in the outer solar system. That work has included being part of the Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES), a program to discover and dynamically characterize ~500 Kuiper belt objects (KBOs), and the Outer Solar System Origins Survey. Indeed there is a minor planet, 21458 Susank, named for her. Active in educational outreach, she recently completed with two co-authors, a curriculum entitled The Crossroads of Science and Faith: Astronomy Through a Christian Worldview.
On the ASA and CSCA web sites, Benecchi describes the latest developments and challenges in the full range of astronomy. Her essay is intended as an invitation. Readers are encouraged to take up one of the insights or questions, or maybe a related one that was not mentioned, and draft an article (typically about 5,000-8,000 words) that contributes to the conversation. These can be sent to Dr. Benecchi at susank@psi.edu. She will send the best essays on to peer review and then we will select from those for publication in an Astronomy theme issue of Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith.
The lead editorial in the December 2013 issue of PSCF outlines what the journal looks for in article contributions.
For best consideration for inclusion in the theme issue, manuscripts should be received electronically before 31 October 2018.
Looking forward to your contributions,
James C. Peterson, editor-in-chief
Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith
[This essay and two others were published in the September 2019 issue of PSCF.]
