Steven Weinberg

Steven Weinberg - Cornell University, Timeline and Facts

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Steven Weinberg's Personal Details

Steven Weinberg is a Nobel Prize winning physicist best known for his work on the weak force and electromagnetic interactions

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 3, 1933
NationalityAmerican
FamousAtheists, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Scientists, Physicists
SpousesLouise Weinberg
ChildrensElizabeth
Universities
  • Columbia University,Cornell University,Harvard University,Princeton University
  • Princeton University (1957)
  • Cornell University (1954)
  • Columbia University
  • Harvard University
  • The Bronx High School of Science
Notable Alumnis
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Harvard University
  • Princeton University
Birth PlaceNew York City, USA
GenderMale
FatherFrederick
MotherEva Weinberg
Sun SignTaurus
Born inNew York City, USA

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Steven Weinberg's photo

Who is Steven Weinberg?

Steven Weinberg is a theoretical physicist who along with Abdus Salam and Sheldon Glashow won the Nobel Prize in physics "for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter alia, the prediction of the weak neutral current". In addition to the Nobel Prize, he is also the winner of several other prestigious awards for his work in the field of elementary particles and cosmology. A prolific writer, he has written a number of articles on a variety of subjects and is a frequent contributor to ‘The New York Review of Books’ and other periodicals. As a young boy he developed a deep interest in all matters of scientific enquiry and was enthusiastically encouraged by his father to pursue his passion. By the time he was 16 he had realized that theoretical physics was the field that fascinated him the most. It is a coincidence that he went to the same high school and was in the same class as Sheldon Glashow with whom he would share a Nobel Prize years later. As on today he is considered to be among the top scientists in the world. He has been the President of the Philosophical Society of Texas and served as consultant at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born to Frederick and Eva Weinberg in New York City. He was inclined towards science from an early age.

He attended Bronx High School of Science from where he graduated in 1950. Another future physicist, Sheldon Glashow was a classmate there.

He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell in 1954 and went to the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen for his graduate studies. During this time he began his research with the help of David Frisch and Gunnar Kallen.

He returned to the U.S. and worked on his doctoral thesis under Sam Treiman at Princeton University, earning his Ph.D. in 1957.

Career

He worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Columbia University from 1957 to 1959. From 1959 to 1966 he worked at Berkeley. He conducted research on a wide variety of topics—weak interaction currents, quantum field theory, symmetry breaking, scattering theory, etc.

His interest in the field of astrophysics began to develop during 1961-62. He published some papers on neutrinos and began working on his book, ‘Gravitation and Cosmology’. By 1965 he had started his work on current algebra and the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking.

He took leave from Berkeley in 1966 to become Loeb Lecturer at Harvard, a post he held till 1969. He also served as a visiting professor at M.I.T.

He was working on broken symmetries, current algebra and renormalization theory while he was a visiting professor to M.I.T. He was appointed a professor in the Physics Department at M.I.T. in 1969; the department was chaired by Viki Weisskopf.

He accepted the position of Higgins Professor of Physics in 1973 at Harvard University. At the same time he was offered the post of Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

Over the 1970s, he focused on unified theory of weak and electromagnetic interactions. He also developed the theory of strong interactions known as quantum chromodynamics.

He published the book ‘The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origin of the Universe’ in 1977. He attempted to explain how the universe evolved in its early stages after the Big Bang.

His research on the renormalization aspect of quantum field theory which he undertook in 1979 was of much significance to the area of theoretical physics. His approach led to the development of effective theory of quantum gravity, heavy quark effective field theory and low energy QCD.

He was appointed as the Jack S. Josey-Welch Foundation Regents Chair in Science at the University of Texas at Austin in 1982. There he founded the Theory Group of the Physics Department.

He gave a talk in April 1999 at the Conference on Cosmic Design of the American Association for the advancement of Science refuting the attacks on the theories of evolution and cosmology. The article ‘A Designer Universe?’ was based on this talk.

He is a prominent public spokesperson for science who frequently contributes articles to the ‘New York Review of Books’. He has authored several books on science which combine the scientific elements with components of history, philosophy and atheism.

Major Works

He is best known for his work on the unification of the weak force and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles. His contribution to the study of particle physics, quantum field theory, gravity, superstrings and cosmology has also been immense.

Awards & Achievements

In 1979, he, along with Sheldon Glashow and Abdus Salam, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on electroweak unification based on spontaneous symmetry breaking.

He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences by the American Philosophical Society in 2004 with the citation that he is "considered by many to be the preeminent theoretical physicist alive in the world today."

Personal Life & Legacy

He married Louise in 1954. His wife is a professor of law. The couple has one daughter.

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Steven Weinberg biography timelines

  • // 3rd May 1933
    He was born to Frederick and Eva Weinberg in New York City. He was inclined towards science from an early age.
  • // 1950
    He attended Bronx High School of Science from where he graduated in 1950. Another future physicist, Sheldon Glashow was a classmate there.
  • // 1954
    He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell in 1954 and went to the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen for his graduate studies. During this time he began his research with the help of David Frisch and Gunnar Kallen.
  • // 1954
    He married Louise in 1954. His wife is a professor of law. The couple has one daughter.
  • // 1957
    He returned to the U.S. and worked on his doctoral thesis under Sam Treiman at Princeton University, earning his Ph.D. in 1957.
  • // 1957 To 1966
    He worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Columbia University from 1957 to 1959. From 1959 to 1966 he worked at Berkeley. He conducted research on a wide variety of topics—weak interaction currents, quantum field theory, symmetry breaking, scattering theory, etc.
  • // 1961 To 1965
    His interest in the field of astrophysics began to develop during 1961-62. He published some papers on neutrinos and began working on his book, ‘Gravitation and Cosmology’. By 1965 he had started his work on current algebra and the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking.
  • // 1966 To 1969
    He took leave from Berkeley in 1966 to become Loeb Lecturer at Harvard, a post he held till 1969. He also served as a visiting professor at M.I.T.
  • // 1969
    He was working on broken symmetries, current algebra and renormalization theory while he was a visiting professor to M.I.T. He was appointed a professor in the Physics Department at M.I.T. in 1969; the department was chaired by Viki Weisskopf.
  • // 1970
    Over the 1970s, he focused on unified theory of weak and electromagnetic interactions. He also developed the theory of strong interactions known as quantum chromodynamics.
  • // 1973
    He accepted the position of Higgins Professor of Physics in 1973 at Harvard University. At the same time he was offered the post of Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
  • // 1977
    He published the book ‘The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origin of the Universe’ in 1977. He attempted to explain how the universe evolved in its early stages after the Big Bang.
  • // 1979
    His research on the renormalization aspect of quantum field theory which he undertook in 1979 was of much significance to the area of theoretical physics. His approach led to the development of effective theory of quantum gravity, heavy quark effective field theory and low energy QCD.
  • // 1979
    In 1979, he, along with Sheldon Glashow and Abdus Salam, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on electroweak unification based on spontaneous symmetry breaking.
  • // 1982
    He was appointed as the Jack S. Josey-Welch Foundation Regents Chair in Science at the University of Texas at Austin in 1982. There he founded the Theory Group of the Physics Department.
  • // Apr 1999
    He gave a talk in April 1999 at the Conference on Cosmic Design of the American Association for the advancement of Science refuting the attacks on the theories of evolution and cosmology. The article ‘A Designer Universe?’ was based on this talk.
  • // 2004
    He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences by the American Philosophical Society in 2004 with the citation that he is "considered by many to be the preeminent theoretical physicist alive in the world today."

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Steven Weinberg's FAQ

  • What is Steven Weinberg birthday?

    Steven Weinberg was born at 1933-05-03

  • Where is Steven Weinberg's birth place?

    Steven Weinberg was born in New York City, USA

  • What is Steven Weinberg nationalities?

    Steven Weinberg's nationalities is American

  • Who is Steven Weinberg spouses?

    Steven Weinberg's spouses is Louise Weinberg

  • Who is Steven Weinberg childrens?

    Steven Weinberg's childrens is Elizabeth

  • What was Steven Weinberg universities?

    Steven Weinberg studied at Columbia University,Cornell University,Harvard University,Princeton University, Princeton University (1957), Cornell University (1954), Columbia University, Harvard University, The Bronx High School of Science

  • What was Steven Weinberg notable alumnis?

    Steven Weinberg's notable alumnis is Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Princeton University

  • Who is Steven Weinberg's father?

    Steven Weinberg's father is Frederick

  • Who is Steven Weinberg's mother?

    Steven Weinberg's mother is Eva Weinberg

  • What is Steven Weinberg's sun sign?

    Steven Weinberg is Taurus