Meet Professor Mario Jurić, a leading figure in the field of astronomy and a key speaker at the 248th AAS meeting. In this interview, we delve into his journey, from his early days as a graduate student to his current role as a professor and Senior Data Science Fellow at the University of Washington. With a passion for the cosmos and a drive to uncover its secrets, Jurić is revolutionizing our understanding of the Solar System and the universe beyond.
Jurić's fascination with astronomy began during his PhD studies, where he worked on exoplanet dynamics and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). This experience ignited his interest in large-scale surveys and their potential to unlock new discoveries. He later joined the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), an ambitious project to map the entire Southern night sky over a decade. LSST's goal is to create a vast, accessible dataset that can be used for various scientific endeavors, from studying the Solar System to exploring the mysteries of dark energy.
Jurić's expertise lies in using LSST to detect and characterize asteroids and comets in our Solar System. He anticipates a significant increase in the number of known asteroids and trans-Neptunian objects, with the potential to find almost seven times more than currently known. This surge in discoveries will provide valuable insights into the formation and composition of our Solar System, as well as the nature of interstellar visitors like Oumuamua and 3I/ATLAS.
The digital revolution in astronomy, marked by the rise of software and data-intensive surveys, has been pivotal in Jurić's career. He reflects on the transition from photographic plates to digital cameras, which revolutionized sky surveys and enabled the creation of massive datasets. This shift allowed astronomers to analyze millions of stars, galaxies, and quasars, leading to groundbreaking discoveries and a deeper understanding of the cosmos.
Jurić's work with LSST and its predecessor projects has been a constant thread throughout his career. He emphasizes the importance of community access and equal opportunity in scientific research. All LSST analysis code is open-source and freely available, ensuring that anyone can contribute to the project and benefit from its data. However, he also advises students to be cautious when joining large projects, suggesting that novel, smaller-scale initiatives can offer more immediate rewards and a faster path to seeing the impact of one's work.
As LSST continues to gather data and make groundbreaking discoveries, Jurić remains dedicated to his family life, finding balance amidst his busy schedule. He is excited to share some of the first Solar System discoveries made with LSST during his Plenary Talk at the AAS 248 meeting, scheduled for June 15, 2026. With his passion for astronomy and commitment to democratizing access to scientific knowledge, Professor Jurić is a true visionary in the field, inspiring the next generation of astronomers to explore the universe and unlock its secrets.
