David Spergel Joins Carnegie Science Board Of Trustees

Washington, DC— Simons Foundation President and astrophysicist David Spergel has been elected a member of the Carnegie Science Board of Trustees.

The Carnegie Science Board is composed of leaders in business, the sciences, education, and public service. It oversees Carnegie’s operations and high-level implementation of our institutional mission.

“I couldn’t be more confident of the positive impact David will have on our board and Carnegie Science as a whole,” said Craig Barrett, Carnegie Science Board Chair. “His commitment to the mission and goals of Carnegie are incredibly valuable to the ongoing success of the Institution."

“I am pleased to have David join the Carnegie Board of Trustees. His extensive knowledge of astrophysics, biology, and science in general and his rich experience in institutional leadership make him an ideal fit for our Board,” said Carnegie President Eric D. Isaacs.

Spergel retired from Princeton University after a 30-year career, during which he was Chair of the Department of Astrophysical Sciences for nearly a decade. He is now the Charles Young Professor of Astronomy Emeritus on the Class of 1897 Foundation. In 2016 he joined the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute as Founding Director of its Center for Computational Astrophysics, and began his tenure as Simons Foundation President five years later.

He also co-chairs the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, formerly Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) science team and co-chairs the American Astronomical Union’s Global Coordination of Ground and Space Astrophysics working group.

His research expertise ranges from the search for planets around nearby stars to the shape of the universe. He has been honored with several noteworthy awards including the Breakthrough Prize, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics, and the American Astronomical Society’s Kavli Lectureship. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a legacy fellow of the American Astronomical Society.

“I am honored to accept the duties of Trustee for such a historic and illustrious institution.” Spergel said.