Brief Bio

Dr. C. Alex Young is the Associate Director for Science in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the science communication for the division. This includes developing tools, resources, and training for the NASA workforce to reach many different audiences. He works with the division scientists to promote and support their research. In addition, he also coordinates this work with the center, agency, and beyond.

In graduate school at the University of New Hampshire, Dr. Young studied the high-energy astrophysics of cosmic gamma-ray bursts and gamma-ray solar flares.

He joined the NASA/ESA SOHO mission after graduate school as a Solar Astrophysicist with the Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT). He also served as a staff scientist for the STEREO mission and as a Chief Observer for Hinode's Solar Optical Telescope. Working in this area grew his interest in image processing, which he combined with his love of statistics and data analysis. It was this with the help of some of his colleagues that led to his establishment of the Solar Image Processing Workshops or SIPWork. Over years, Young has helped organize and run 5 workshops and edited 3 special topic Solar Physics journal volumes on Solar Image Processing. Part of what he enjoys about data analysis topics is the sharing of knowledge with the solar and astrophysics communities. This has led to his participation with the California Harvard Astrostatisics Collaboration (CHASC) and serve as a member and current chair of the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) Astrostatistics and Astroinformatics Working Group.

Dr. Young's passion for sharing knowledge has also been fueled by giving public lectures, television and radio interviews for NASA/TV, and participating in several Discovery Channel documentaries. To further this outreach he established thesuntoday Facebook fan page and the complementary website, thesuntoday.org. These link with a Twitter feed and YouTube channel.

Dr. Young co-led NASA's public engagement efforts for the 2017 total solar eclipse.

Dr. Young led the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team (HEAT) and its earlier incarnations from 2015 to 2021.

Dr. Young is married with cats. In his spare time, he enjoys running, traveling, watching movies, and playing video games. Test

Publications

Refereed

Gilbert, H. R., A. R. Inglis, M. L. Mays, et al. L. Ofman, B. J. Thompson, and C. A. Young. 2013. "Energy Release from Impacting Prominence Material Following the 2011 June 7 Eruption." The Astrophysical Journal 776 [L12-10.1088/2041-8205/776/1/L12]

Yu, Y., D. A. van Dyk, V. L. Kashyap, and C. A. Young. 2012. "A Bayesian Analysis of the Correlations Among Sunspot Cycles." Solar Physics 281 847-862 [10.1007/s11207-012-0090-x]

Ireland, J., S. Christe, V. K. Hughitt, et al. A. Y. Shih, C. A. Young, M. D. Earnshaw, and F. Mayer. 2012. "Automatic Detection and Characterization of EIT Waves Observed by AIA Data." American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #220 220 #201.17-

Gallagher, P. T., C. A. Young, J. P. Byrne, and R. T. McAteer. 2011. "Coronal mass ejection detection using wavelets, curvelets and ridgelets: Applications for space weather monitoring." Advances in Space Research 47 2118-2126 [10.1016/j.asr.2010.03.028]

Miller, R. S., M. Bonamente, D. Ebbets, et al. R. Freelove, A. Harwit, D. J. Lawrence, S. OBrien, W. S. Paciesas, and C. A. Young. 2010. "Ex Luna Scientia! A New Paradigm for Nuclear Gamma-Ray Astrophysics." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 42 720-

Ireland, J., M. S. Marsh, T. A. Kucera, and C. A. Young. 2010. "Automated Detection of Oscillating Regions in the Solar Atmosphere." Solar Physics 264 (2): 403-431 [10.1007/s11207-010-9592-6]

Ryan, D., P. T. Gallagher, R. O. Milligan, and C. A. Young. 2010. "A Method to Calculate Background-Subtracted Flare Plasma Parameters Using GOES Over Three Solar Cycles." American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #216 216 #404.36-

Milligan, R., R. T. McAteer, B. R. Dennis, and C. A. Young. 2010. "Evidence of Enhanced Particle Acceleration During a Plasmoid-Looptop Collision Observed with RHESSI." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 41 #404.26-

Miller, R. S., M. Bonamente, D. A. Gregory, et al. D. Ebbets, R. Freelove, A. Harwit, D. J. Lawrence, S. OBrien, W. S. Paciesas, and C. A. Young. 2010. "Ex Luna, Scientia -- The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO) Nuclear Astrophysics Mission Concept." LPI Contributions 1595 40-

Byrne, J. P., P. T. Gallagher, R. T. McAteer, and C. A. Young. 2009. "The kinematics of coronal mass ejections using multiscale methods." Astronomy and Astrophysics 495 325-334 [10.1051/0004-6361:200809811]

Ireland, J., and C. A. Young. 2009. "Solar Image Analysis and Visualization." Solar Image Analysis and Visualization: ISBN 978-0 387-98153-6. Springer New York 2009 [-10.1007/978-0-387-98154-3]

Kirk, M. S., W. D. Pesnell, C. A. Young, and S. A. Hess Webber. 2009. "Automated detection of EUV Polar Coronal Holes during Solar Cycle 23." Solar Physics 257 99-112 [10.1007/s11207-009-9369-y]

Miller, R. S., M. Bonamente, J. M. Burgess, et al. P. Jenke, D. J. Lawrence, S. OBrien, M. R. Orr, W. S. Paciesas, and C. A. Young. 2009. "The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO) -- A Nuclear Astrophysics All-Sky Survey Mission Concept." Lunar and Planetary Institute Science Conference Abstracts 40 1364-

Conlon, P. A., P. T. Gallagher, R. T. McAteer, et al. J. Ireland, C. A. Young, P. Kestener, R. J. Hewett, and K. Maguire. 2008. "Multifractal Properties of Evolving Active Regions." Solar Physics 248 297-309 [10.1007/s11207-007-9074-7]

Byrne, J. P., C. A. Young, P. T. Gallagher, and R. T. McAteer. 2008. "Multiscale Characterization of Eruptive Events." First Results From Hinode 397 162-

Miller, R. S., M. Bonamente, J. M. Burgess, et al. B. A. Harmon, P. Jenke, D. J. Lawrence, S. OBrien, M. R. Orr, W. S. Paciesas, and C. A. Young. 2008. "The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO) - A Nuclear Astrophysics All-Sky Survey Mission Concept." LPI Contributions 1415 2050-

Ireland, J., C. A. Young, R. J. McAteer, et al. C. M. Whelan, R. Hewett, and P. T. Gallagher. 2008. "Multi-scale structure of active region magnetic fields correlated with flaring activity." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 3-

Hewett, R. J., P. T. Gallagher, R. T. McAteer, et al. C. A. Young, J. Ireland, P. A. Conlon, and K. Maguire. 2008. "Multiscale Analysis of Active Region Evolution." Solar Physics 248 311-322 [10.1007/s11207-007-9028-0]

Ireland, J., M. S. Marsh, T. A. Kucera, and C. A. Young. 2008. "Automated detection of oscillations in extreme ultraviolet imaging data." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1507-

Ireland, J., C. A. Young, R. T. McAteer, et al. C. Whelan, R. J. Hewett, and P. T. Gallagher. 2008. "Multiresolution Analysis of Active Region Magnetic Structure and its Correlation with the Mount Wilson Classification and Flaring Activity." Solar Physics 252 121-137 [10.1007/s11207-008-9233-5]

Young, C. A. 2008. "Image Processing for the Study of CMEs." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 1626

Young, C. A. 2007. "Mkit: An IDL Multiscale Toolbox." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 39 133

Ireland, J., C. A. Young, P. T. Gallagher, et al. R. T. McAteer, C. Whelan, and R. J. Hewett. 2007. "Wavelet Analysis of Active Region Magnetic Structure." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 39 214-

Ireland, J., C. A. Young, C. Whelan, et al. P. T. Gallagher, R. T. McAteer, and R. J. Hewett. 2006. "Wavelet analysis of Active Region structure." 36th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 36 2595-

Young, C. A., J. B. Gurman, G. Dimitoglou, et al. J. Hourcle, R. S. Bogart, K. Tian, F. Hill, I. Suarz-Sola, S. Wampler, P. Martens, S. Yoshimura, and A. Davey. 2006. "The virtual solar observatory." Proceedings of the ILWS Workshop 226-

Ireland, J., C. A. Young, and D. van Dyk. 2006. "Toward RHESSI Spectroscopic Imaging: I, Spectroscopy." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 38 226-

Conlon, P., R. T. McAteer, P. T. Gallagher, et al. J. Ireland, C. A. Young, and C. A. Young. 2006. "Multifractal Analysis of Solar Magnetograms." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 38 222-

Kozyra, J. U., K. Shibata, N. J. Fox, et al. S. Basu, A. J. Coster, J. M. Davila, N. Gopalswamy, K. Liou, G. Lu, I. R. Mann, D. Pallamraju, L. J. Paxton, W. K. Peterson, E. R. Talaat, A. T. Weatherwax, C. A. Young, and L. J. Zanetti. 2006. "Investigating the state of the Sun-Earth system during extreme events: First science results of a worldwide online conference series." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1-

Young, C. A., J. Ireland, D. A. van Dyk, and R. M. Willett. 2006. "Toward RHESSI Spectroscopic Imaging II : Imaging." AAS/Solar Physics Division Meeting #37 37 #37.03-

Young, C. A., B. J. Thompson, J. M. Davila, and N. Gopalswamy. 2006. "IHY-CAWSES Data base." 2nd UN/NASA Workshop on International Heliophysical Year and Basic Space Science

Balasubramaniam, K. S., A. A. Pevtsov, D. F. Neidig, et al. E. W. Cliver, B. J. Thompson, C. A. Young, S. F. Martin, and A. Kiplinger. 2005. "Sequential Chromospheric Brightenings beneath a Transequatorial Halo Coronal Mass Ejection." The Astrophysical Journal 630 1160-1167 [10.1086/432030]

Young, C. A., J. Ireland, and D. Bewsher. 2005. "Statistics of the Quiet Sun Intensity Distribution." The Dynamic Sun: Challenges for Theory and Observations 600

McIntosh, S. W., C. A. Young, and J. B. Gurman. 2004. "EUV Brightpoints over the cycle to date as observed by SOHO/EIT." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 36 827-

Ireland, J., C. A. Young, K. March, and J.-P. Adam. 2004. "Applying fragmentation models to the solar atmosphere." Multi-Wavelength Investigations of Solar Activity 223 387-388 [10.1017/S1743921304006234]

Myers, D. C., P. T. Gallagher, and C. A. Young. 2003. "Multiscale Feature Identification in Solar Flares and CMEs." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 35 809-

Young, C. A., A. Connors, E. Kolaczyk, et al. M. McConnell, G. Rank, J. M. Ryan, and V. Schoenfelder. 2003. "Bayesian multiscale deconvolution applied to gamma-ray spectroscopy." Statistical Challenges in Astronomy 503-504

Young, C. A. 2003. "COMPTEL Gamma-Ray Observations of the C4 Solar Flare on 20 January 2000." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 35 832-

Balasubramaniam, K. S., A. A. Pevtsov, D. F. Neidig, et al. E. W. Cliver, C. A. Young, S. F. Martin, and A. L. Kiplinger. 2003. "Signatures of Large Scale Coronal Eruptive Activity, Associated Flares, and Propagating Chromospheric Disturbances." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 35 814-

Young, C. A., S. E. Gregory, and D. C. Myers. 2002. "Application of Multiscale Methods to Solar Image Data." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 34 734-

Ryan, J. M., M. Arndt, K. Bennett, et al. A. Connors, H. Debrunner, J. Lockwood, M. McConnell, G. Rank, V. Schoenfelder, R. Suleiman, O. Williams, C. Winkler, and C. A. Young. 2002. "High-Energy Measurements of the November 15, 1991 Solar Flare." Multi-Wavelength Observations of Coronal tructure and Dynamics 397-

Benjamin, M., C. A. Young, and B. R. Dennis. 2002. "RHESSI Investigations of the Neupert Effect in Solar Flares." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 35 #141.01-

Lawrence, G. R., and C. A. Young. 2001. "A Study of Measurement Errors in Tracking Coronal Mass Ejections Using Coronagraph Data." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 22-

Yashiro, S., N. Gopalswamy, O. C. StCyr, et al. G. Lawrence, G. Michalek, C. A. Young, S. P. Plunkett, and R. A. Howard. 2001. "Development of SOHO/LASCO CME Catalog and Study of CME Trajectories." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 31-

Young, C. A., M. B. Arndt, K. Bennett, et al. A. Connors, H. Debrunner, R. Diehl, M. McConnell, R. S. Miller, G. Rank, J. M. Ryan, V. Schoenfelder, and C. Winkler. 2001. "COMPTEL gamma-ray observations of the C4 solar flare on 20 January 2000." AIP Conf. Proc. 587 613-617 [10.1063/1.1419472]

Arndt, M. B., A. Connors, J. Lockwood, et al. M. McConnell, R. Suleiman, J. Ryan, C. A. Young, G. Rank, V. Schoenfelder, H. Debrunner, K. Bennett, O. Williams, and C. Winkler. 2001. "X- and gamma-ray observations of the 15 November 1991 Solar Flare." Gamma 2001: Gamma-Ray Astrophysics 587 618-622 [10.1063/1.1419473]

Young, C. A., A. Connors, E. Kolaczyk, et al. M. McConnell, G. Rank, J. M. Ryan, and V. Schoenfelder. 2001. "Bayesian multiscale deconvolution applied to gamma-ray spectroscopy." AIP Conference Proceedings, Gamma 2001: Gamma-Ray Astrophysics 587 701-705 [10.1063/1.1419486]

Young, C. A., K. Bennett, A. Connors, et al. R. Diehl, M. McConnell, G. Rank, J. M. Ryan, R. Suleiman, V. Schoenfelder, and C. Winkler. 2001. "Energetic proton spectra in the 11 June 1991 solarflare." AIP Conf. Proc. 587 623-627 [10.1063/1.1419474]

Young, C. A., and D. C. Myers. 2001. "Multiscale Analysis of Solar Image Data." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 33 1443-

Arndt, M. B., A. Connors, M. McConnell, et al. J. M. Ryan, R. Suleiman, C. A. Young, K. Bennett, G. Rank, and V. Schoenfelder. 2000. "X-Ray and Gamma Ray Measurements of the 15 November 1991 Solar Flare." High Energy Solar Physics Workshop - Anticipating Hess! 206 451-

Young, C. A., A. Connors, K. Bennett, et al. W. Collmar, W. Hermsen, R. M. Kippen, E. D. Kolaczyk, L. Kuiper, M. McConnell, R. Miller, J. M. Ryan, V. Schoenfelder, O. R. Williams, and C. Winkler. 2000. "Spectra of a recent bright burst measured by CGRO-COMPTEL: GRB 990123." AIP Conf. Proc. 526 170-174 [10.1063/1.1361528]

Ryan, J. M., M. Arndt, J. A. Lockwood, et al. M. L. McConnell, R. Miller, C. A. Young, R. Diehl, G. Rank, V. Schoenfelder, K. Bennett, C. Winkler, and H. Debrunner. 2000. "COMPTEL Gamma-Ray Observations of the C4 Solar Flare on 20 January 2000." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 32 847-

Young, C. A., M. B. Arndt, A. Connors, et al. M. McConnell, G. Rank, J. M. Ryan, R. Suleiman, and V. Schoenfelder. 2000. "Energetic proton spectra in the 11 June 1991 solar flare." AIP Conference Series 510 564-568 [10.1063/1.1303266]

Connors, A., C. A. Young, K. Bennett, et al. W. Collmar, W. Hermsen, R. M. Kippen, L. Kuiper, M. McConnell, R. Miller, J. M. Ryan, V. Schoenfelder, O. R. Williams, and C. Winkler. 2000. "MeV measurements of γ-ray bursts by CGRO-COMPTEL; Revised catalog." Gamma-ray Bursts: 5th Huntsville Symposium 526 28-32 [10.1063/1.1361501]

Young, C. A., A. Connors, M. McConnell, et al. J. M. Ryan, O. R. Williams, C. Winkler, K. Bennett, W. Hermsen, L. Kuiper, W. Collmar, V. Schoenfelder, and R. M. Kippen. 1999. "High Energy (MeV) Characteristics of GRB 990123 as Measured by CGRO-COMPTEL." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 31 711-

Connors, A., R. M. Kippen, C. A. Young, S. Barthelmy, and P. Butterworth. 1999. "GRB 990123: correction to GCN 230 - C.A. Young added to author list." GRB Coordinates Network 237 1-

Young, C. A., A. Connors, M. McConnell, et al. G. Rank, J. M. Ryan, R. Sulieiman, and V. Schoenfelder. 1999. "Energetic Proton Spectra in the 11 June 1991 and 24 October 1991 Solar Flares." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 31 859-

Briggs, M. S., D. L. Band, R. M. Kippen, et al. R. D. Preece, C. Kouveliotou, J. van Paradijs, G. H. Share, R. J. Murphy, S. M. Matz, A. Connors, C. Winkler, M. L. McConnell, J. M. Ryan, O. R. Williams, C. A. Young, B. Dingus, J. R. Catelli, and R. A. Wijers. 1999. "Observations of GRB 990123 by the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory." The Astrophysical Journal 524 (1): 82-91 [10.1086/307808]

Onnors, A., R. M. Kippen, C. A. Young, S. Barthelmy, and P. Butterworth. 1999. "GRB 990123: correction to GCN 230 - C.A. Young added to author list." GRB Coordinates Network 237 1-

Connors, A., W. Collmar, W. Hermsen, et al. S. Kappadath, R. M. Kippen, L. Kuiper, M. McConnell, F. Pelaez, J. M. Ryan, V. Schoenfelder, M. Varendorff, O. R. Williams, C. Winkler, and C. A. Young. 1998. "MeV measurements of gamma-ray bursts by CGRO-COMPTEL." Gamma-Ray Bursts: 4th Hunstville Symposium 428 344-348 [10.1063/1.55465]

Connors, A., S. Kappadath, M. McConnell, et al. J. M. Ryan, C. A. Young, K. Bennett, O. R. Williams, C. Winkler, W. Collmar, V. Schonfelder, M. Varendorff, W. Hermsen, L. Kuiper, and R. M. Kippen. 1997. "MeV Measurements of Gamma-Ray Bursts by CGRO-COMPTEL." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 29 1288-

Young, C. A. 1997. "Neutron Transport in the Solar Atmosphere." International Cosmic Ray Conference 1 21-

Meredith, D. C., J. M. Ryan, and C. A. Young. 1996. "Quantifying variability of GRB light curves using multifractal analysis." American Institute of Physics Conference Series 384 57-61 [10.1063/1.51571]

Young, C. A., D. C. Meredith, and J. M. Ryan. 1996. "A compact representation of GRB time series using multiscale edge detection." AIP Conference Proceedings, Gamma-ray bursts: 3rd Huntsville symposium 384 116-122 [10.1063/1.51728]

Young, C. A., M. L. McConnell, G. Rank, et al. J. M. Ryan, V. Schonfelder, K. Bennett, E. Cliver, R. Miller, and A. MacKinnon. 1996. "A Search for MeV Gamma-Ray Emission from the Quiet-Time Sun." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 28 1298-

Young, C. A., M. B. Arndt, D. A. Biesecker, and J. M. Ryan. 1996. "A search for micro cosmic gamma-ray bursts in BATSE one second continuous data." AIP Conference Proceedings, Gamma-ray bursts: 3rd Huntsville symposium 384 (1): 555-559 [10.1063/1.51724]

Meredith, D. C., J. M. Ryan, and C. A. Young. 1995. "Searching for Multifractal Scaling in Gamma-Ray Burst Time Series." Astrophysics and Space Science 231 111-114 [10.1007/BF00658597]

Young, C. A., D. C. Meredith, and J. M. Ryan. 1995. "A compact representation of gamma-ray burst time series." Astrophysics and Space Science 231 (1-2): 119-122 [10.1007/BF00658599]

Meredith, D. C., J. M. Ryan, C. A. Young, and J. P. Lestrade. 1994. "Wavelet Analysis of Gamma Ray Bursts." Gamma-Ray Bursts 307 701-

Non-Refereed

Kozyra, J. U., K. Shibata, R. J. Barnes, et al. S. Basu, J. M. Davila, N. J. Fox, N. Gopalswamy, M. M. Kuznetsova, D. Pallamraju, L. J. Paxton, A. Ridley, M. Weiss, C. A. Young, and L. J. Zanetti. 2006. "A Sun-to-Earth Campaign Joining Observations from the Great Observatory with Worldwide Satellite and Ground-Based Resources to Investigate System Science Frontiers." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts A3-