Events in March 2023 MAS researchers are included in an international ranking that highlights authors with the greatest scientific impact

The astronomers Márcio Catelan and Cristóbal Petrovich, both scientists from MAS and the UC Institute of Astrophysics, are part of the prestigious ranking prepared by the data expert from Stanford University, John PA Loannidis, which analyzes the influence of scientific publications by researchers and researchers from around the world in their respective areas of study.

Communications MAS.- “Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators». is the name of the update of this important world classification, published by Elsevier magazine and which includes data from the bibliographic reference base Scopusfrom 1996 to 2021. In it there are almost 200,000 outstanding researchers, among which are the astronomers of the MAS Márcio Catelan and Cristóbal Petrovichboth professors at the Institute of Astrophysics UC.

For one thing, Catelan has a long-standing history with this measurement, as it is the fifth year that he has been listed as one of the top scientists. “This means that the research we have been carrying out continues to be recognized as highly relevant internationally. For me, it is undoubtedly a very satisfying reason to continue being included in this ranking”, sums up the MAS associate researcher.

Remember that one of his most cited works was done when he was still a postdoctoral researcher at NASA. “On that occasion, I had the ‘insight’ that a certain feature that had been detected in horizontal branch stars of a couple of globular clusters in the Milky Way should, in fact, be present in ‘all’ globular clusters with stars. hot enough, and about the same temperature. I explained my hypothesis to my Danish friend and colleague Frank Grundahl, who carried out the check, confirming my hypothesis”, he says. Currently his main line of research is in the area of ​​stellar astrophysics, although he also participates in studies of the structure, formation and evolution of the Milky Way and its satellite galaxies, as well as pulsating variable stars.

Outstanding researchers in 2021

One of the novelties of this ranking update is that it also includes the classification of the work of scientists only for the year 2021 and not throughout their career. Thanks to this, new generations were distinguished, as is the case of the young MAS researcher, Christopher Petrovich. “This allows scientists with younger careers like mine to be highlighted for our high impact,” she says.

The astronomer says that he was recognized for his work in the area of ​​planetary formation. “Specifically my theoretical models that seek to understand the origin of the so-called hot Jupiters and other populations of exoplanets that are still very enigmatic. To be distinguished together with colleagues that I admire scientifically is a great pride. And the challenge, looking forward, is to continue doing work with a high international impact, especially together with my younger colleagues and students who work in my group”.

It should be noted that this ranking has the virtue of considering other factors in addition to the number of citations from scientific publications., which according to the same author of the study is a metric “that is used a lot and badly”. This classification also considers indicators such as number of articles, citations received (with or without self-citations), H-index, citations based on different authorship positions (single author, first signatory, or last signatory), as well as a composite indicator that incorporates all these parameters. It also classifies scientists into 22 fields and 174 research subfields.

The full study can be found at the following link