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Russell Merle
Genet, Ph.D., is a Research Scholar in Residence at California
Polytechnic State University. He is an adjunct professor of
astronomy at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo and as the Director of the
Orion Observatory, observes eclipsing binary stars and studies cosmic
evolution. Russ, who pioneered the world’s first fully robotic
observatory (featured in the PBS special, The Perfect Stargazer),
was the 51st President of the Astronomical Society of the
Pacific. He teaches Astronomy at Cuesta
College on California’s central coast,
where he lives with his wife and childhood sweetheart, Cheryl. |
Curriculum Vitae
Orion Observatory, 4995 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
Phone (805) 438-3305, Fax (805) 438-3355, Email
russmgenet@aol.com
POSITIONS Director, Orion
Observatory Prof. of Astronomy, Cuesta College
Resident Scholar, California Polytechnic State University
MOST RECENT BOOK
(2007) Humanity: The Chimpanzees Who Would Be Ants
CURRENT PROJECTS AND COURSES
Astronomical Research
High precision CCD photometry of eclipsing binary stars.
Conference
Hawaii Conference on the Evolutionary Epic (Jan. 3-8, 2008)
Cuesta College Credit
Courses Introduction to Astronomy,
Physics Research Seminar
Cuesta College Community
Course Astronomy at the Telescope
California State Polytechnic University OSHER Institute, Humanity
PAST RESEARCH
1994-2003 Cosmic Evolution
Synthesis of physical, biological, and cultural evolution.
Book
The Chimpanzees Who Would Be Ants: The Evolutionary Epic of Humanity
(1997).
Symposia Organized
Evolutionary Views of Humanity, The Epic of Evolution (with Brian
Swimme), and Cosmic Evolution and Big History (with David Christian).
1979-1993
Astronomy Founded the Fairborn Observatory (1979). Developed
automatic telescopes and established first fully robotic observatory on Mt.
Hopkins, Arizona (with Louis Boyd).
Books
Photoelectric Photometry of Variable Stars (1982), Real-Time
Control With theTRS-80
(1982), Microcomputer Control of Telescopes (1985), Supernovae
1987A (1987), Robotic Observatories (1989), and Telescope
Control Handbook (1997).
Papers
in Astronomical Journal, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the
Pacific, etc.
Symposia Organized
Eight conferences on variable star photometry and automatic telescopes.
Television Appearances
in the PBS documentary The Perfect Stargazer (which featured the
Fairborn Observatory’s robotic telescopes), Crawford’s Technology Week,
and Horizons.
1970-1990
Systems Analysis Developed computer simulation models of rocket and
aircraft, including the first computerized life cycle costs models. Applied
medical diagnostic mathematical analysis techniques to equipment fault
detection. Developed aircraft flight training simulators.
Papers
in the Defense Management Journal,
Journal of the Society of Logistics Engineers, etc.
1964-1969
Rocket Design Designed guidance systems for rockets and developed
gyroscope and accelerometer tests. Designed reentry plasma experiment for a
Gemini space capsule.
PAST TEACHING
2004-2006
Astronomy and Physics at Cuesta College
2003-2006
Astronomy short courses at California Polytechnic State University’s Osher
Institute.
1999-2001
Astronomy, Mathematics, History, and Sociology at
Central Arizona College.
1975-1983
Individualized aircraft flight training (basic,
commercial, instrument).
1971-1973
Mathematics
and Electronics, Muskingum Technical Institute.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, American Association for the
Advancement of Science, Astronomical Society of the Pacific (past
President), American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union,
American Association of Variable Star Observers, and the Institute for the
Study of Complex Systems (Fellow).
EDUCATION
BS Electrical Engineering, MS Logistics Management, PhD Astronomy.
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