About
Hubert Reeves (1932-2023) was a French-Canadian astrophysicist and science popularizer. Born in Montreal, he earned his PhD in nuclear astrophysics from Cornell University in 1960. He pursued a research career at CNRS and CEA, contributing to the understanding of light element nucleosynthesis. From the 1980s, he focused on popularizing science with works like 'Patience dans l'azur', reaching a wide audience. Committed to environmental causes, he presided over the association Humanité et Biodiversité. He received numerous honors, including the Einstein Medal and the Legion of Honour.
* 1932-07-13 — † 2023-10-13
Major works
- Patience dans l'azur (1981)popular science essay
- Poussières d'étoiles (1984)popular science essay
- L'Heure de s'enivrer (1986)popular science essay
- Mal de Terre (2003)essay
Key milestones
- 1960Earned his PhD in nuclear astrophysics from Cornell University.
- 1971Co-discovered that lithium, beryllium, and boron are produced by cosmic-ray spallation.
- 2001Awarded the Einstein Medal, jointly with Johannes Geiss.
Themes
CosmologyScience popularizationEcologyOrigin of lifeHumanity's place in the universe
Sources: nature.com · iucn.org · ville.montreal.qc.ca