[defrost]

I'd say not.

To the best of my knowledge, as an Australian loosely associated with the SKA project, fireball spotting, geophysics for astrophysics (ie. ground signal signatures to be subtracted from ground astro sensors), I'm not particularly aware of anything of note that he has done in the scientific side of the astro fields.

As I understand it he went straight from thesis research to being a spokesmodel for the Hayden Planetarium, then to directing site expansion and public outreach.

He's done good work interfacing to the USofA public with some minor recognition outside the US and is a known science educator.

But he's no (say) David Blair .. and David's no household name nor super high end genius (albeit pretty damn smart)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Blair_(physicist)