Professor Emeritus Bruce Partridge Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy Bruce Partridge has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. Partridge joins a distinguished class of nearly 250 new members recognized for their exceptional achievements in academia, the arts, industry, policy, research, and science.

The Academy's founders—including John Adams and John Hancock—envisioned an organization that would recognize accomplished individuals and engage them in meeting the nation's challenges. The first members elected to the Academy in 1781 included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.

Partridge, who retired in 2008 after 38 years of teaching at Haverford, is internationally known for his contributions to observational cosmology. His research has focused on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation—the remaining heat following the Big Bang origin of our universe—since its discovery in 1965. His published works include editing Finding the Big Bang, from Cambridge University Press, which features the work of 44 preeminent scientists who have pioneered work in that arena, as well as a monograph on the CMB.

During his nearly five decades at Haverford, Partridge taught a wide range of physics and astronomy courses, fostering within Fords a deeper interest and appreciation for the cosmos. Well known on campus for his enthusiasm and energetic support of students and colleagues, Partridge has inspired generations of students to explore the big questions swirling in the heart of the universe while also including them as co-authors on numerous publications. Beyond Haverford, he has shaped broader undergraduate astronomy curricula and served as the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) education officer. 

"I've always been drawn to fundamental questions—How old is the universe? How did galaxies first form?—and to simple systems. Surprisingly, the universe is a simple system, as detailed studies of the CMB have shown. We now know the history of the universe in detail," Partridge says. "It's been a delight to play a small role in all this. And I love talking about and sharing my work, be it with the public, in Astro 101, or with generations of Haverford student research associates. Election to the Academy honors them as well as me."

Throughout his career, Partridge has collaborated with NASA and major international research teams, including the European Space Agency's Planck satellite project. In recognition of his work on that project, Partridge, the only U.S.-based member of the team from a liberal arts college, was awarded the 2018 Gruber Prize alongside principal investigators Jean-Loup Puget and Nazzareno Mandolesi. He is currently a member of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope team, which complements Planck's observation of CMB radiation at a finer scale and higher sensitivity. 

In addition to his AAS service, Partridge was president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and of the Division of Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy of the International Astronomical Union. He's also served on numerous advisory committees and review panels for the National Science Foundation, Princeton University, California Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and several astronomy journals. 

"These new members' accomplishments speak volumes about the human capacity for discovery, creativity, leadership, and persistence," says Academy President Laurie L. Patton. "They are a stellar testament to the power of knowledge to broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding. We invite every new member to celebrate their achievement and join the Academy in our work to promote the common good."

Partridge will be formally inducted into the Academy during a ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October.