Markus Nielbock

Markus Nielbock works at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) and the House of Astronomy (HdA), leading science communication initiatives. He develops educational materials for secondary schools, oversees public relations, contributes to the ESO Science Outreach Network, and supervises students in astronomy-related contexts. His career spans research, outreach, and teaching roles.

• PhD in physics and astronomy (2001)
• ESO Fellowship in Chile (2001-2003)
• Postdoctoral research at the University of Bochum (2003-2006)
• Project scientist for the Herschel Space Telescope at MPIA (2006-2015)
• Research associate at the House of Astronomy (2015-present)
• Public relations at MPIA (2018-present)

Nielbock's research interests focus on astronomy education, science communication, exoplanet detection techniques, and historical navigation methods. He has developed instructional materials on topics like the transit and radial velocity methods, celestial navigation, and Earth's climate systems. His work bridges astrophysical research with accessible pedagogical resources.

He has taught block courses on Introduction to Astronomy for Secondary School Teachers from WS 2016/17 to WS 2023/24, emphasizing practical applications of astronomy. His publications in Science in Schools and astroEDU cover subjects ranging from exoplanets to historical navigation and climate science.

Nielbock is involved in organizing public lectures and events to promote astronomy. He collaborates with institutions like the ESO and contributes to educational projects such as Space for Education. His outreach includes media interviews on planetary science and space missions, available via Creative Commons licenses.