The University of Illinois Department of Astronomy welcomed students, faculty, and alumni to its annual Astrofest event on April 25. Hosted at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, the day-long celebration of research and discovery featured a mix of poster sessions, lightning talks, demonstrations, and plenary lectures.
Astrofest started with a morning poster session, where students showcased their research across various topics from galaxy formation to virtual reality applications in astronomy. Throughout the day, participants heard from leading faculty members about their work, including talks on neutron stars, galaxy evolution, and the future of astronomical visualization. The event culminated in a keynote address by alum Dr. Phil Jewell (Ph.D., 1982, Astronomy), Deputy Director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. He shared his career journey and reflections with the next generation of astronomers.
Jewell also participated in a later panel discussion about career paths after graduate school, offering advice drawn from decades of experience in observational astronomy, leadership, and international collaborations. In his talk, “From the Morrow Plots to the Atacama Desert,” he reflected on his career, from working as a postdoc at the Max-Planck-Institut für Radiostronomie in Bonn, Germany to leading major international projects like the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and how his experience as a graduate student at Illinois shaped it. His presence offered a glimpse into the professional world awaiting many of the students in the audience and a sense of continuity — a reminder of the department’s long legacy of discovery and the lasting connections forged here.
Jewell’s journey through the cosmos began in the basement of the old campus observatory, working below the massive refractor telescope. He quickly became involved with the Vermilion River Observatory, operating a 120-foot telescope in nearby Danville, allowing him to launch his research career. “It was a good telescope,” Jewell recalled. “Having our own instrument available gave us the freedom to do projects that took time.”
His graduate work involved monitoring OH masers—radio emissions from evolved stars wrapped in expanding shells of gas and dust. Jewell and his colleagues measured a 30-day phase lag between the red- and blue-shifted signals, allowing them to calculate the size of these stellar envelopes. “It was a perfect project to start my career," he said. "We had time, we had a telescope, and we had smart people around me. It was a significant, kind of nifty result early on.”
Jewell’s doctoral advisor was Professor Lew Snyder, a pioneer in astrochemistry. “Lew was quite a character, but a very smart scientist,” Jewell said. During his keynote, he recalled a tradition where Snyder would take new graduate students to the Champaign County Fair to see the tractor pull and hog shows to get a true Midwestern experience. “He had a gruff exterior, but a heart of gold underneath it. He gave me a lot of good advice that I really appreciated.” Snyder’s groundbreaking discovery of the first polyatomic molecule in the interstellar medium helped define the emerging field, and his mentorship left a lasting imprint on Jewell’s career.
After earning his Ph.D., Jewell’s path took him around the globe, including postdoctoral work in Bonn, Germany, and leadership roles at premier observatories such as the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii and the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. He eventually became the North American Director for ALMA, overseeing major upgrades that pushed the frontiers of star formation research and black hole studies.
Despite his travels, Jewell’s memories of Illinois remain deeply personal. It was in the Department of Astronomy where he not only found his research footing, but also met his wife of 44 years, Christine, who was working as an administrative aide for the department when they first crossed paths. “My biggest takeaway from my time at Illinois,” he said with a smile.
Returning to campus for Astrofest brought a sense of continuity and excitement for Jewell. “I love being around students. It energizes me,” he said. “Much of my work will long outlive my career, so I’m trying to facilitate things for the next generation of astronomers. It excites me today to come back and tell some old stories and talk about the new stuff that’s going on.”
When asked what advice he would offer today’s students, Jewell didn’t hesitate. “Be bold. Get out of your comfort zone,” he urged. “And make sure you're connected to a good research group. Everyone eventually has to make a name for themselves, but having a strong network of collaborators really helps you along the way.”
For a department built on discovery, having alumni like Phil Jewell return serves as a reminder that a career in astronomy is not only about the stars overhead but also about the people, places, and ideas that guide the way.
Beneath its weathered dome, the Campus Observatory has housed groundbreaking discoveries and served as a gathering place where generations of students have explored the cosmos and built lasting bonds. But in recent years, the observatory has been weathered by time and the elements, prompting a dedicated group of alumni and supporters to step in and help restore its legacy.
Friends of the Observatory is working to ensure that future students can experience the same wonder they did. Led by alumni like Mike Svec (B.S., 1988, Physics), the group is rallying support for preserving this historic landmark, hoping to restore the building and strengthen the community that has always surrounded it.
The Friends of the Observatory was first formed in 2010. “There was a break-in,” Svec recalled. “I had just happened to be driving through, and it was my first time back in a while.” While the damage from the vandalism was minimal, the condition of the building was shocking for Mike and others to see. “Dave Leake (B.S., 1983, Physics) and Leslie Looney were up there. We were standing in the dome, and we all were surprised by how much the observatory had deteriorated.”
Water damage from leaks in the roof had begun to chip away at some of the paint and rot some of the wood in the building. Standing in the dome, they asked themselves: ‘What if a group of alumni could help?’ From that conversation, Friends of the Observatory was born. Years later, their efforts have helped secure a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures Grant from the National Park Service, combined with matching deferred maintenance funds from campus, to support much-needed renovations to the building’s exterior.
For Svec, the observatory is more than just a historic structure—it’s a place where students find community, inspiration, and hands-on experience with the stars.
“There’s something powerful about this place,” he said. “Even last night, there were several generations of astronomers. There are old-timers like me, the undergrads, and then there are students passing through. Some of the activity was centered on the telescope, but some of it was gathered in the corner sitting on the couches, gathered and talking, and just having a place together where you can find a community having a shared love of the sky.”
The observatory has played a pivotal role in astronomical research, particularly through the work of Dr. Joel Stebbins, who pioneered photoelectric photometry at the site. His research revolutionized astronomical imaging and laid the foundation for modern digital imaging, including the technology used in today’s phone cameras. This groundbreaking work was a crucial step in the evolution of astronomical observation, bridging the past with the future of scientific discovery. It is also one of the key reasons the observatory was designated as a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its lasting impact on the field.
For alumni like Svec, preserving the observatory is about more than nostalgia—it’s about ensuring that future students can experience the same sense of wonder and connection that shaped their journeys through University of Illinois Astronomical Society events like public open houses and other observing sessions.
“Some of the best nights have been when I’ve been there myself,” Svec reflected, “some of them have been with others, and some have been teaching. Probably where I learned that I wanted to become a teacher was from public open houses.”
The hope is that by rallying alumni support, Friends of the Observatory can create a living legacy where future students can walk through the doors, look through the telescope, and feel the same spark of discovery that has drawn people here for over a century and perhaps find their passions.
“Right now,” Svec explains, “with the grant, we’re putting in about a million dollars on the exterior, which should make it water-tight. Then, that will permit the next step, which will be addressing the interior. It has the potential to be a functional classroom space again easily. We just have to invest in bricks and mortar on the inside to make it more functional.“ The bid opening is scheduled for May of 2025, with construction set to begin in late July of the same year and continue through the fall semester.
As the next phase of work begins, the Friends of the Observatory are reaching out to alumni, inviting them to play a role in preserving this historic space. Contributions—whether financial, hands-on expertise, or advocacy—will help fund restorations, enhance student opportunities, and keep the observatory’s doors open for future generations to experience the wonder of the night sky.
If you want to receive the Friends of the Observatory’s quarterly newsletters or learn more about the group, please contact Mike Svec at mtsvec@gmail.com.
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