Kim Weaver
When Kim Weaver was growing up, she was fascinated by books with pictures of the galaxy, stars and planets. Now, as a professional astronomer, this 1987 WVU graduate has written a book to share the thrill of exciting advances in astronomy.
Currently working as a NASA scientist and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, Kim wanted to use her book to educate a general audience about the many recent advances in astronomy. The book is called “The Violent Universe: Joyrides through the X-Ray Cosmos.”
“I really wanted to help inspire people,” kids especially, and show them what astronomy is all about,” Kim says. “When I was a kid, I loved books with pictures taken by telescopes of things like galaxies and stars. I always wanted to know more about what those things were.”
Kim says that advances in infrared, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma ray technology have helped astronomers collect different pieces of the puzzle.”
“People are really fascinated by things like the Hubble telescope, and it really does take gorgeous images,” Kim says. “But it only magnifies things we can see with our eyes and optical telescopes. There’s so much more to astronomy.
“For example, black holes are hard to find in visible light, but when they’re devouring material, it gives off x-rays. With x-ray technology, we can see flashes of x-ray light that says a black hole is active.”
The Violent Universe is primarily a collection of pictures that show how these different pictures and technologies can be used to get a better understanding of astronomy as a whole.
Kim, a Morgantown native, looks back fondly on her years at WVU. In addition to studying in the physics program, she was also the field conductor for the WVU marching band in 1985 and 1986 and was elected Miss Mountaineer in 1986.
“I loved my experience at WVU because it was such an incredibly personable place to be,” she says. “Even though the campus was large, it felt like everyone was your friend. Everyone was there to help you and support you. It was just a joy to be there.”
She says that being involved in extracurricular activities made her experience at WVU much more enjoyable.
“The marching band was a wonderful hobby, and it was so much fun to be a part of the school spirit,” Kim says. “If I had just been a student taking classes, I certainly wouldn’t have gotten the whole experience.”
These days, as an alumna, Kim still feels a strong connection to her alma mater. Whether it’s watching a football game on TV or reading about individual alumni stories on the Web site, she is always proud of WVU and the people it has produced.
“I always love seeing individual alumni stories,” Kim says. “Because WVU really produces some great people and I think everyone needs to see more of that.
“Any alumni who have gone on to succeed owe it to the university and to themselves to let the next generation know that they can do something with their degree,” she says. “They have the ability to let people know that it’s not about where you get your degree, it’s about your own personal drive and ambition.”
