Rate My Professor Scott Fisher

Scott Fisher is an Astronomy Lecturer and Outreach Director in the Department of Physics at the University of Oregon. He also serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Physics and Director of the Pine Mountain Observatory. Fisher earned his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Florida in 2001, with a dissertation titled 'Searching the solar neighborhood for protoplanetary debris disks: a survey of Vega-like sources.' Prior to his current roles at the University of Oregon, he worked as a researcher at the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii and as a program officer at the National Science Foundation. His academic career has focused on bridging cutting-edge astrophysics research with innovative teaching and extensive public outreach. Fisher's research specializations encompass exoplanets, galaxy evolution, galaxy clusters, circumstellar debris disks, and mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei (AGN). These interests are reflected in his contributions to understanding protoplanetary systems and galactic structures through observational astronomy.

In addition to his administrative and outreach duties, Fisher has made significant contributions to the scientific literature through highly cited publications. Notable works include 'How observations of circumstellar disk asymmetries can reveal hidden planets: pericenter glow and its application to the HR 4796 disk' (The Astrophysical Journal, 1999), 'Deep 10 and 18 micron imaging of the HR 4796A circumstellar disk: Transient dust particles and tentative evidence for a brightness asymmetry' (The Astrophysical Journal, 2000), 'Mid-infrared images of β Pictoris and the possible role of planetesimal collisions in the central disk' (Nature, 2005), 'Spatially resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy of NGC 1068: The nature and distribution of the nuclear material' (The Astrophysical Journal, 2006), and 'The infrared nuclear emission of Seyfert Galaxies on parsec scales: Testing the clumpy torus models' (The Astrophysical Journal, 2009). More recent publications involve student collaborations, such as 'The Evolution of Bulge-dominated Field Galaxies from z ≈ 1 to the Present' (The Astrophysical Journal, 2018) and studies on asteroid properties using Pine Mountain Observatory data. Fisher teaches introductory astronomy courses emphasizing science literacy for non-majors and leads outreach programs that engage K-12 students, the public, and university communities through lectures, observatory tours, and events. His multifaceted role has had a lasting impact on STEM education and astronomical outreach at the University of Oregon and beyond.