George Efstathiou
Encyclopedia
George Petros Efstathiou FRS (born 2 September 1955) is a British astrophysicist who is Professor of Astrophysics and Director of the Kavli Institute of Cosmology at the University of Cambridge
. He was previously Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford
.
and the University of Durham. He was a research assistant in the Astronomy Department of University of California Berkeley from 1979 to 1980, then moved to the Institute of Astronomy
at the University of Cambridge
, holding research fellowships at King's College, Cambridge
from 1980 to 1988. He was Head of Astrophysics at the Institute from 1988 to 1994, when he was appointed the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford
(a post that he held in conjunction with a fellowship at New College, Oxford
. He returned to Cambridge in 1997 as Professor of Astrophysics and a Fellow of King's College. He became Director of the Kavli Institute of Cosmology in 2008.
of the Institute of Physics
in 1990, and appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1994, the same year in which he was awarded the Bodossaki Foundation Academic and Cultural Prize for Astrophysics. Other awards in the Robinson Prize in Cosmology (University of Newcastle, 1997) and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
(American Institute of Physics
and American Astronomical Society
, 2005). He received the Gruber Prize in Cosmology
for 2011 jointly with Marc Davis, Carlos Frenk
and Simon White
.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He was previously Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Life
Efstathiou was educated at Somerset Comprehensive School before studying at Keble College, OxfordKeble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
and the University of Durham. He was a research assistant in the Astronomy Department of University of California Berkeley from 1979 to 1980, then moved to the Institute of Astronomy
Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge
The Institute of Astronomy is the largest of the three astronomy departments in the University of Cambridge, and one of the largest astronomy sites in the UK...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, holding research fellowships at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
from 1980 to 1988. He was Head of Astrophysics at the Institute from 1988 to 1994, when he was appointed the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(a post that he held in conjunction with a fellowship at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He returned to Cambridge in 1997 as Professor of Astrophysics and a Fellow of King's College. He became Director of the Kavli Institute of Cosmology in 2008.
Awards and honours
He was awarded the Maxwell Medal and PrizeMaxwell Medal and Prize
The Maxwell Medal and Prize is one of the principal awards made annually by the Institute of Physics. The award is made for outstanding contributions to theoretical physics and is intended to recognize theoretical physicists early in their careers....
of the Institute of Physics
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
in 1990, and appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1994, the same year in which he was awarded the Bodossaki Foundation Academic and Cultural Prize for Astrophysics. Other awards in the Robinson Prize in Cosmology (University of Newcastle, 1997) and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
The Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics is jointly awarded each year by the American Astronomical Society and American Institute of Physics for outstanding work in astrophysics. It is funded by the Heineman Foundation in honour of Dannie Heineman....
(American Institute of Physics
American Institute of Physics
The American Institute of Physics promotes science, the profession of physics, publishes physics journals, and produces publications for scientific and engineering societies. The AIP is made up of various member societies...
and American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
, 2005). He received the Gruber Prize in Cosmology
Gruber Prize in Cosmology
The Gruber Prize in Cosmology is one of five international awards made by The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation, an American non-profit organization based in the U.S. Virgin Islands with offices in New York City...
for 2011 jointly with Marc Davis, Carlos Frenk
Carlos Frenk
Professor Carlos Silvestre Frenk is a Mexican-British cosmologist. His main interests lie in the field of cosmology, galaxy formation and computer simulations of cosmic structure formation....
and Simon White
Simon White
Professor Simon David Manton White, FRS is a British astrophysicist. He is one of four directors at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.- Life :...
.
External links
- Efstathiou's webpage at the University of Cambridge