Tiziana Di Matteo's blue eyes sparkle and her face lights up with an infectious smile as she describes the mysterious forces that made the universe a chunky mishmash of galaxies, planets, gas and dust instead of a smooth soup of subatomic particles.
On Thursday, the Carnegie Science Center recognized the Carnegie Mellon University associate professor of physics with a 2008 Carnegie Science Award as the region's best "Emerging Female Scientist."
"The Carnegie Science Awards set, in real time, the scientific innovators and organizations on the leading edge of science that inspire the next generation," said Joanna Haas, director of the North Shore center. This year's awards, sponsored by Eaton Corp., honored 27 people and organizations with awards or honorable mentions.
Di Matteo, who is originally from Italy and did research at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, joined Carnegie Mellon three years ago. Her research involves using computers and mathematical equations to create models and simulations that test theories about the formation of the universe.
As a cosmologist who studies the universe as a whole, Di Matteo is rarely in front of a telescope. Her interest in stars and galaxies wasn't sparked by a childhood of star-gazing.
"The sky and the stars are beautiful, but I was really drawn in by the theory behind it," she said. "I guess as I student I was really fascinated by the power of mathematics."
2008 Carnegie Science Award recipients
• Chairman's Award: Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute
• Advanced Manufacturing: Paul Medwick, James Thiel and Andrew Wagner of PPG Industries
• Advanced Materials: Stephen F. Badylak of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
• Catalyst: John W. Manzetti of Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse
• Corporate Innovation: Medrad Inc.
• Elementary Educators: Marie Lowe and Lynette Zimmerman of Avella Area School District
• Middle Level Educator: Nancy Bires of Hermitage School District
• High School Educator: Ellen Wright of Pittsburgh Public Schools
• School District: Riverview School District
• University/Post-Secondary Educator: Mary Besterfield-Sacre, Joseph J. McCarthy and Robert S. Parker of the University of Pittsburgh
• Start-up Entrepreneur: John Shearer of Powercast Corp.
• Entrepreneur: Rich Lunak of Innovation Works
• Environmental: Richard V. Piacentini of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Information Technology: Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center
• Journalism: Kenneth Chiacchia of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Life Sciences: William R. Wagner of the University of Pittsburgh
• Emerging Female Scientist: Tiziana Di Matteo of Carnegie Mellon University
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