Joe Shields is a native of Kansas, and completed his undergraduate
studies at the University of Kansas and PhD at the University of
California at Berkeley. Shields was a postdoctoral scientist at Ohio
State University and Hubble Fellow at the University of Arizona's
Steward Observatory before joining the faculty at Ohio University.
Shields is an astrophysicist working on studies of galaxies and the interstellar medium. Much of his work addresses the structure of galaxy nuclei, which commonly host supermassive black holes. Matter falling into these collapsed objects can emit prodigious amounts of energy; when this power outshines the stars in the surrounding galaxy, the result is what we call a quasar. In carrying out his studies, Shields uses telescopes both on the ground and in space, including the MDM Observatory at Kitt Peak, Arizona (which provides guaranteed access to Ohio University students and faculty), and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory.
In his teaching, Shields says he has always found inspiration in the ways that simple ideas that explain things we see every day can be used to also make sense of exotic phenomena on cosmic scales.
One of Shields' favorite quotes comes from Robert Goddard, pioneer of space flight: ``It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.''
When he is able to escape from work, Shields enjoys gardening, hiking, and attending fine arts performances on campus.
