George Blumenthal

George R. Blumenthal
Tenth Chancellor of the
University of California, Santa Cruz
Assumed office
2006
Personal details
Born 1945 (age 71–72)
Spouse(s) Kelly Weisberg
Alma mater University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
University of California, San Diego
Profession astrophysicist, astronomer, professor

George R. Blumenthal (born 1945) is an American astrophysicist, astronomer, professor, and academic administrator. He is the tenth chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Biography

Blumenthal was born to Lillian and Marcel Blumenthal, the owners of a small Venetian blinds operation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was interested in science at a very early age and recalls the launch of the Soviet Sputnik I satellite in 1957.[1] Blumenthal holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, San Diego.[1]

Blumenthal is known particularly for his work with Santa Cruz colleagues Sandra M. Faber and Joel Primack and with Martin Rees of Cambridge University on dark matter.[2] Their theory of cold dark matter, developed in the 1980s, remains the standard explanation of the formation of galaxies and galaxy clusters. Blumenthal has also worked in many other areas of astrophysics, including the study of gamma-ray bursts, accretion disks, active galaxies, and the microwave background radiation left by the Big Bang.[1]

Blumenthal was the chair of the UC Santa Cruz Academic Senate from 2001 to 2003 and served one year each as Vice Chair and Chair of the University of California Academic Senate. He succeeded Denice Denton as UCSC chancellor in 2006 after her suicide.

He co-authored of two textbooks, 21st Century Astronomy and Understanding Our Universe, and has written more than 75 scientific publications.[1]

Personal life

Blumenthal is married to UC Hastings professor of law Kelly Weisberg, with whom he has two children, Aaron and Sarah. When asked about his family, he refers to all the UC students as his children.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "George Blumenthal". Joint Venture Silicon Valley. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Blumenthal; et al. (11 Oct 1984). "Formation of galaxies and large-scale structure with cold dark matter". Nature. 311: 517–525. Bibcode:1984Natur.311..517B. doi:10.1038/311517a0. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Associate of the Chancellor Weisberg's biography". UC Santa Cruz. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
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