Ed van den Heuvel
Encyclopedia
Edward Peter Jacobus van den Heuvel (born 2 November 1940 in Soest) is a Dutch
astronomer
and emeritus
professor at the Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek of the University of Amsterdam.
Van den Heuvel is well-known for his work on the formation and evolution of compact astrophysical objects such as neutron stars, blackholes, and white dwarfs in binary systems
. And for his investigation of gamma ray bursts.
Van den Heuvel studied mathematics
, physics
en astronomy
at the Utrecht University
. There, he obtained his PhD
degree in 1968 for his research on the rotation of stars. During his career he held positions at (amongst others) the University of California
, Utrecht University
, Institute for Advanced Study
, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
.
For his work Van den Heuvel has been awarded with an Honorary Doctorate from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, the Spinozapremie
(1995) and the European Union
Descartes Prize
(2002). He has also been knighted in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
(since 1982), honorary fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society
and honorary fellow of the Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, India.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
professor at the Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek of the University of Amsterdam.
Van den Heuvel is well-known for his work on the formation and evolution of compact astrophysical objects such as neutron stars, blackholes, and white dwarfs in binary systems
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
. And for his investigation of gamma ray bursts.
Van den Heuvel studied mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
en astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at the Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
. There, he obtained his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in 1968 for his research on the rotation of stars. During his career he held positions at (amongst others) the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
, Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
.
For his work Van den Heuvel has been awarded with an Honorary Doctorate from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, the Spinozapremie
Spinozapremie
The Spinozapremie is an annual award by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research of 2.5 million Euro, to be spent on new research. The award is the highest scientific award in the Netherlands...
(1995) and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Descartes Prize
Descartes Prize
The Descartes Prize is an annual award in science given by the European Union, named in honour of the French mathematician and philosopher, René Descartes....
(2002). He has also been knighted in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
(since 1982), honorary fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
and honorary fellow of the Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, India.
External links
- Website van Ed van den Heuvel
- Program symposium Wij Zijn Van Sterrenstof Gemaakt, 27 October 2005.