A Netherlands college has eliminated a former observatory head from his put up after allegations of “extraordinarily unacceptable habits”, in keeping with a report.
Tim de Zeeuw, now a former astronomer with Leiden College, confirmed the removing Wednesday (Oct. 26) in an announcement through 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 stated the astronomer “can’t agree” with the college’s govt board choice, however he’ll observe “all measures imposed,” the report added.Â
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Leiden officers issued a statement (opens in new tab) on Oct. 18 that reported the outcomes of an investigation induced it to take away a professor, which it didn’t title, who “subjected numerous colleagues to intimidating and unacceptable habits for an extended interval.” The professor was suspended whereas the investigation came about, officers added.
“The professor is not going to 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 study from this, and the way we will be sure that unacceptable habits is addressed sooner sooner or later.”
The Leiden investigation came about “after numerous members of employees 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 govt 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 removing from Max Planck was reported in Physics World, whereas ESO officers issued their own statement (opens in new tab) Wednesday.
“We specific our deep assist and sympathy for the victims of this harassment. ESO is strongly in opposition to all types of harassment, bullying and different unacceptable habits,” ESO officers stated, including the astronomer is banned from all observatory premises, conferences and data expertise services.
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