Professor Patricia H. Reiff is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and was the founding Director of the Rice University Space Institute in Houston.

Her research focuses on space plasma physics, mostly in the area of magnetospheric physics: “space weather”. Her research includes study of the aurora borealis, solar wind-magnetosphere coupling (including solar wind control of magnetospheric and ionospheric convection), and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.

Pat is a veteran of 18 total and 3 annular solar eclipse expeditions. She is also co-developer of the “Discovery Dome” planetarium system, with more than 450 installations around the world.   http://www.discoverydome.com

She manages an eclipse information website (https://space.rice.edu/eclipse), with viewing information, graphics and animations, recommended equipment, links to training videos and the HMNS/Rice planetarium show “Totality”, which can be viewed free in English and Spanish https://space.rice.edu/eclipse/eclipse_show.html.