Skip to main content

Endowed Lectures

The Endowed Lectures are presented as part of the CfA Colloquia Series on Zoom,  Thursdays at 4 PM.

Bok Prize Lectures

The Bok Prize lecture series was established through the gift of an anonymous donor, honoring Professor Bart J. Bok. The prize is awarded to a recent holder of a Ph.D. degree in the Physical Sciences from Harvard or Radcliffe who is under 35 years of age and has focused their research in observational methods of the Milky Way.

Past Bok Prize Lectures

Cecilia Payne-Gaposhkin Lectures

The Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Lecture series was established in October 2000 during the centenary year of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin’s birth, to remember Payne-Gaposchkin by honoring a modern astrophysicist with broad accomplishments.

Past Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Lectures

Clay Fellowship Lectures

Endowed by a gift from Landon and Lavinia Clay, the Clay Fellowship is a four-year program for postdoctoral scholars. Clay Fellows pursue independent research of their own design. More information about the Clay and other CfA Fellowships is available on the CfA Postdoctoral Opportunities site.

Past Clay Fellowship Lectures

Lecar Prize Lectures

The Lecar Prize was endowed by a generous gift from the estate of Myron S. Lecar to encourage and recognize exceptional contributions to the study of extrasolar planets in particular and theoretical astrophysics in general. Dr. Myron "Mike" Lecar joined the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 1965 and remained until his retirement in 2009, serving as a founding member of the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative. The Lecar Prize recipient receives an honorarium and delivers a lecture at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.

Past Lecar Prize Lectures

pH Lectures

​​​​​The pH Lecture is an endowed lecture established by the Hertelendy family of California. Dr. Hertelendy is an alumni member of the Smithsonian's National Board and for several years he served at its official liaison to SAO. The family established the lecture to encourage and celebrate the Observatory's outstanding young scientists.

Past pH Lectures

Sackler Award Lectures

The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Distinguished Lecture in Astronomy was established in 1992, with the goal of bringing outstanding speakers to the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.

Past Sackler Lectures

Van Ballegooijen Lectures

The Adriaan van Ballegooijen Annual Lecture is endowed by the family of Dr. Adriaan van Ballegooijen to establish an annual lecture honoring the legacy of the former SAO scientist. It is a part of the CfA colloquium lecture series and invited speakers will focus on solar physics and magnetic fields that were the specialty areas of Dr. van Ballegooijen.