Andrew Nourse and Patty Hardy Studentship
Andrew Nourse and Patty Hardy met at MIT in 1973. They were computer science majors who shared an interest in amateur astronomy. In 1995, Andrew called Patty's attention to photographs of the New Kingdom astronomical ceilings of Ancient Egypt. He supported Patty as she corresponded with patient scholars, attended seminars and conferences and lectures as a curious layman, and widened her understanding of the extraordinary role of the sky in culture.
Upon retiring, Andrew's desire to share the night sky eventually led him to back the commercial development of small digital telescopes, to deploy them at outdoor music festivals in the Sierras and to support local educational centers like the Chabot Space and Science Center of Oakland, California. He and Patty attended Oxford XIII / IAU Symposium 399 and had many amazing conversations.
Sadly, Andrew "Tiedye" Ward Nourse passed away on 20 October 2025. Patty, his wife of 52 years, generously made a donation to ISAAC, which we have now established as the Andrew Nourse and Patty Hardy Studentship. This supports a student of cultural astronomy (undergraduate or graduate) to present a paper at the next Oxford meeting for up to USD$1,000. Students will be able to apply for this studentship when registering for Oxford IV (2028). Details about eligibility and requirements will be posted at that time.