Dr. Lynn Cominsky, chair of Department of Physics & Astronomy at Sonoma State University, was awarded the 2017 Frank J. Malina Astronautics Medal by the International Astronautical Federation.
The international award recognizes outstanding contributions to space education by an educator who promotes the study of astronautics and space science.
Cominsky has been an SSU professor since 1986. She is a specialist in science communications, high-energy astrophysics and physical science education.
Cominsky founded and has directed Sonoma State’s Education and Public Outreach program since 1999. The program develops innovative school curricula for K-12 and college classrooms. It has led several NASA-funded educational programs, including rocketry programs for high school and community college students.
In 2013, SSU physics students built and launched a small satellite named T-LogoQube, which operated successfully from orbit. SSU students are now working on their second satellite, EdgeCube, which is due for launch in late 2018.
The Malina Medal was awarded last fall at the International Astronautical Congress. Cominsky delivered the Keynote Address in the E1 Space Education and Outreach Symposium during the meeting.