UCSD astrophysicist wins $1 million prize

A UC San Diego astrophysicist is the recipient of the $1 million Shaw Prize in Astronomy, it was announced Tuesday.

Frank H. Shu, a professor of physics at UCSD, was recognized for his “outstanding lifetime contributions in theoretical astronomy,” according to the university. The Shaw Prize Foundation announced the award Tuesday in Hong Kong. The prize will be formally presented to Shu at a ceremony on Oct. 7.

“This award is a significant honor for both Frank Shu and UC San Diego,” UCSD chancellor Marye Anne Fox said. “It’s a validation of the tremendous impact that Frank has had on advancing the field of astronomy.”

According to UCSD, Shu’s work on the origin of stars spans three decades. He is credited with accurately predicting that comets, once thought to be made up of only ice, also contain bits of rock.

Tags: SDNN

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