The survival of carbon monoxide within interstellar gas clouds despite exposure to ultraviolet radiation became clear through the research of Ewine van Dishoeck. By creating sophisticated interstellar cloud models and comparing them with empirical observations, she determined that dust and other molecules provide shielding, allowing these critical carbon-based structures to persist in deep space.
Academic Foundations and Shift to Astrophysics
Born in 1955 in Leiden, Netherlands, Ewine Fleur van Dishoeck pursued chemistry at Leiden University. Her early interests leaned toward quantum chemistry, but the death of her primary supervisor necessitated a change in research direction. Influenced by her husband, astronomer Tim de Zeeuw, she transitioned into astrochemistry. She completed her doctorate under the guidance of Alex Dalgarno at Harvard University, focusing her thesis on the excitation and dissociation of molecules within gas clouds.
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Van Dishoeck serves as Professor of Molecular Astrophysics at Leiden Observatory. Her work investigates the physical and chemical evolution occurring during the formation of stars and planets. She utilizes submillimeter and mid-infrared astronomy to analyze the radiative transfer of line and continuum radiation. In 2021, she secured an ERC Advanced Grant to advance the study of chemical processes within planet-forming disks located around distant stars.
Institutional Leadership and Professional Contributions
Beyond her research, Van Dishoeck has occupied significant leadership positions. She was the scientific director of the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) starting in 2007. She served as president of the International Astronomical Union from 2018 to 2021 and has been a co-editor of the Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics since 2012. Her international influence is reflected in her memberships, including the National Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
Recognition and Awards
Her academic career is marked by numerous accolades across chemistry and physics. Notable recognitions include the Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award in 1993, the KNCV Gold Medal in 1994, and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science in 2015. In 2018, she received the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics and the James Craig Watson Medal. Most recently, she was awarded the Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics and Cosmology in 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Leiden, Netherlands
- Field: Astrochemistry
- Education: Leiden University (PhD)
- Positions: Chairperson, International Astronomical Union (2018-2021)
- Significant Award: Kavli Prize in Astrophysics (2018)
- Current Employer: Leiden University
Questions readers ask
What is Ewine van Dishoeck's primary area of scientific research?
She specializes in astrochemistry, specifically investigating the molecular structure of cosmic objects and the chemical evolution during star and planet formation.
Did Ewine van Dishoeck hold leadership roles in global scientific organizations?
Yes, she served as the president of the International Astronomical Union from 2018 to 2021.
Achievements
- Held posts at Leiden University
- Educated at Leiden University
- Fields of research: astrochemistry
