Lawrence Krauss

Lawrence Krauss. An American-Canadian theoretical physicist and cosmologist known for his research on the early universe and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. He is a prolific author of popular science books, including the bestselling A Universe from Nothing, and a prominent, often controversial, public advocate for scientific skepticism and secularism. Krauss has held professorships at Yale University, Case Western Reserve University, and Arizona State University, where he founded the Origins Project.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, he was raised in Toronto, Canada, and developed an early interest in physics. He completed his undergraduate studies in mathematics and physics at Carleton University in Ottawa, graduating with first-class honors. For his doctoral work, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was supervised by physicist Roscoe Giles and earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1982. His early academic work was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council postgraduate scholarship.

Academic career and research

Krauss began his academic career as a member of the Society of Fellows at Harvard University before joining the faculty of Yale University in 1985. In 1993, he moved to Case Western Reserve University as the Ambrose Swasey Professor of Physics. His research has focused on the interface between elementary particle physics and cosmology, with significant contributions to the understanding of the cosmological constant and the theoretical implications of dark energy. In 2008, he joined Arizona State University as a Foundation Professor and later directed the Origins Project, an initiative dedicated to exploring fundamental questions about the universe. He has collaborated with researchers at institutions like the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and CERN.

Public outreach and writing

Krauss is a prominent figure in public science communication, having authored over a dozen books aimed at general audiences. His first major popular work, The Physics of Star Trek (1995), explored the scientific plausibility of concepts from the Star Trek franchise. He gained wider fame with A Universe from Nothing (2012), which argued for a cosmological model where the universe could arise from quantum fluctuations. He frequently appears in documentaries, on television programs like The Colbert Report, and gives lectures worldwide. Krauss is also a noted advocate for scientific skepticism, serving on the board of the Center for Inquiry and participating in events with Richard Dawkins and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.

Controversies and criticism

Krauss has been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken views on religion, his confrontational style in debates, and allegations of professional misconduct. His public clashes with religious figures and comments on topics like Islam have drawn criticism from both theological and scientific communities. In 2018, an investigation by Arizona State University following allegations of sexual misconduct led to his removal from directorship of the Origins Project and his eventual retirement from the university. These events prompted widespread discussion about conduct in academia, with criticism from organizations like the American Astronomical Society.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Krauss has received numerous accolades for his research and writing. He was awarded the first prize from the Gravity Research Foundation in 1984. His contributions to public understanding of science were recognized with the 2000 Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the 2012 Science Writing Award from the American Institute of Physics. He has also received the Gemant Award from the American Institute of Physics and the Joseph A. Burton Forum Award from the American Physical Society. In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Category:American theoretical physicists Category:American science writers Category:1954 births Category:Living people