A Netherlands college has eliminated a former observatory head from his submit after allegations of “extraordinarily unacceptable habits”, in line with a report.
Tim de Zeeuw, now a former astronomer with Leiden College, confirmed the elimination Wednesday (Oct. 26) in a press release by way of a lawyer to Physics World (opens in new tab). He was additionally previous director-general of the European Southern Observatory between 2007 and 2017, and previous director of Leiden Observatory from 2003 to 2007.
The assertion mentioned the astronomer “can not agree” with the college’s government board resolution, however he’ll observe “all measures imposed,” the report added.
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Leiden officers issued a statement (opens in new tab) on Oct. 18 that reported the outcomes of an investigation brought about it to take away a professor, which it didn’t identify, who “subjected varied colleagues to intimidating and unacceptable habits for an extended interval.” The professor was suspended whereas the investigation passed off, officers added.
“The professor won’t be allowed to return to the college [and] will not be allowed to oversee Ph.D. candidates,” Leiden officers wrote, pledging they’d “look critically on the classes that we as a college should be taught from this, and the way we are able to make sure that unacceptable habits is addressed sooner sooner or later.”
The Leiden investigation passed off “after varied members of workers had submitted a criticism to the dean concerning the professor in query,” college officers added, noting the investigation included an unbiased complaints committee in addition to the college’s government board.
Each the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany and the intergovernmental astronomy group ESO additionally reduce ties with the previous Leiden professor. The elimination from Max Planck was reported in Physics World, whereas ESO officers issued their own statement (opens in new tab) Wednesday.
“We specific our deep help and sympathy for the victims of this harassment. ESO is strongly towards all types of harassment, bullying and different unacceptable habits,” ESO officers mentioned, including the astronomer is banned from all observatory premises, conferences and knowledge know-how amenities.
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