Dr. Evelyn Reed-Thompson

Born:

March 12, 1958, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Died:

October 27, 2023, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Theoretical Physicist, Astrophysicist, Science Communicator

Early Life and Education

• Graduated valedictorian from Cambridge High School in 1976.
• B.S. in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1980.
• Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 1985, specializing in quantum cosmology.
• Postdoctoral research fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, 1985-1987.

Career and Major Achievements

• Professor of Physics, Harvard University, 1987-2023.
• Pioneered the application of string theory to early universe cosmology.
• Developed novel mathematical models for black hole evaporation.
• Principal Investigator on multiple NASA and NSF research grants.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 for her work on the inflationary epoch. Some colleagues felt, in a contentious debate, that granting the prize represented an artificial closure on the biography of her scientific advancements, as many open questions remained to be explored in her areas of research.

Notable Works

• Authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading scientific journals.
• Published the influential textbook, Quantum Cosmology: A Modern Approach (Cambridge University Press, 1995).
• Hosted the popular PBS science documentary series, Cosmic Perspectives, from 2005 to 2015.

Legacy and Impact

Dr. Reed-Thompson's work significantly advanced our understanding of the early universe and black hole physics. She was a passionate advocate for science education and inspired countless students to pursue careers in STEM fields. Her textbook remains a standard reference for graduate students in cosmology.

Notable Works

Related links