Irwin I. Shapiro
Encyclopedia
Irwin I. Shapiro is an American astrophysicist. Since 1982, he has been a professor
at Harvard University
. Shapiro was director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
from 1982 to 2004.
, Shapiro did an undergraduate in mathematics at Cornell University
, and a master's and PhD in physics at Harvard University. Shapiro joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory
in 1954 and became a professor of physics at MIT in 1967. In 1982, Shapiro became a professor at Harvard University
and also director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
. He won the Charles A. Whitten Medal
from the American Geophysical Union
in 1991, and in 1997, he became the First Timken University Professor.
Shapiro's research includes using gravitational lens
es to assess the age of the universe
.
Named after him
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Shapiro was director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is one of the largest and most diverse astrophysical institutions in the world, where scientists carry out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education...
from 1982 to 2004.
Biography
Irwin Shapiro was born in New York City in 1929. After graduating from Brooklyn Technical High SchoolBrooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech or just Tech, and also administratively as High School 430, is a New York City public high school that specializes in engineering, math and science and is the largest specialized high school for science, technology, engineering, and...
, Shapiro did an undergraduate in mathematics at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and a master's and PhD in physics at Harvard University. Shapiro joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, located in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a United States Department of Defense research and development center chartered to apply advanced technology to problems of national security. Research and development activities focus on long-term technology development as well as...
in 1954 and became a professor of physics at MIT in 1967. In 1982, Shapiro became a professor at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and also director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is one of the largest and most diverse astrophysical institutions in the world, where scientists carry out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education...
. He won the Charles A. Whitten Medal
Charles A. Whitten Medal
The Charles A. Whitten Medal was established by the American Geophysical Union to honor Charles A. Whitten for his contributions to research in crustal movements. This medal, which was first awarded to Charles A. Whitten, recognizes outstanding achievement in research on the form and dynamics of...
from the American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
in 1991, and in 1997, he became the First Timken University Professor.
Shapiro's research includes using gravitational lens
Gravitational lens
A gravitational lens refers to a distribution of matter between a distant source and an observer, that is capable of bending the light from the source, as it travels towards the observer...
es to assess the age of the universe
Age of the universe
The age of the universe is the time elapsed since the Big Bang posited by the most widely accepted scientific model of cosmology. The best current estimate of the age of the universe is 13.75 ± 0.13 billion years within the Lambda-CDM concordance model...
.
Honors
Awards- Albert A. Michelson Medal of the Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
(1975) - Dirk Brouwer AwardBrouwer Award (Division on Dynamical Astronomy)The Dirk Brouwer Award, usually known as the Brouwer Award, is awarded annually by the Division on Dynamical Astronomy of the American Astronomical Society for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of dynamical astronomy...
of the AASAmerican Astronomical SocietyThe American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
's Division on Dynamical AstronomyDivision on Dynamical AstronomyThe Division on Dynamical Astronomy is a branch of the American Astronomical Society that focuses on the advancement of all aspects of dynamical astronomy, including celestial mechanics, solar system dynamics, stellar dynamics, as well as the dynamics of the interstellar medium and galactic...
(1988) - Charles A. Whitten MedalCharles A. Whitten MedalThe Charles A. Whitten Medal was established by the American Geophysical Union to honor Charles A. Whitten for his contributions to research in crustal movements. This medal, which was first awarded to Charles A. Whitten, recognizes outstanding achievement in research on the form and dynamics of...
of the American Geophysical UnionAmerican Geophysical UnionThe American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
(1991) - The Albert Einstein Medal, 1994.
Named after him
- The Shapiro time delay, discovered by Shapiro in 1964