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Lehman Astrophysicist Receives Award for Public Outreach
November 5, 2025
Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Matt O’Dowd has been selected for the American Physical Society’s (APS) 2025 Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach—recognizing his skill at translating the frequently mind-bending concepts of astrophysics into clear, engaging explanations for wide audiences and the 3.6 million subscribers to his long-running series “Space Time.”
“We started ‘PBS Space Time’ 10 years ago because we wanted to share our passion for this amazing universe and give people a glimpse of the real physics and astronomy behind our understanding of it,” said O’Dowd. “Still, the subject matter is bit more challenging to explain than most science media, and we were surprised by how much the show took off.”
The medal highlights the public-facing work of physicists—lectures and media, teaching, research, and related activities that expand scientific understanding. APS lauded him “for bringing the universe down to Earth for people with little or no science background through media appearances, television documentaries, and hundreds of high-quality videos for PBS's online portal "Space Time," the citation read.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see how many people share our excitement about the cosmos O’Dowd said. “The most rewarding part is hearing from viewers who say the show has inspired them to pursue careers in science.”
O’Dowd will receive a $3,000 stipend, the Nicholson medal, and a citation certificate, which will be presented on March 17, 2026 at the APS Global Physics Summit in Denver.