Walter Lewin
Walter Hendrik Gustav Lewin (born January 29, 1936) is a Dutch astrophysicist and former professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lewin earned his doctorate in nuclear physics in 1965 at the Delft University of Technology and was a member of MIT's physics faculty for 43 years beginning in 1966 until his retirement in 2009.
Walter H.G. Lewin
Walter Lewin May 16, 2011 talk at MIT.png
Lewin in action during his farewell lecture, "For the Love of Physics", at MIT on May 16, 2011
Born January 29, 1936 (age 81)
The Hague, Netherlands
Residence Netherlands,
United States
Nationality Dutch
Fields Astrophysics, Physics
Institutions MIT
Alma mater Delft University of Technology
Notable awards
NASA Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement (1978)
Alexander von Humboldt Award (1984 and 1991)
Guggenheim Fellowship (1984)
MIT Science Council Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (1984)
W. Buechner Teaching Prize (1988)
Everett Moore Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2003)
Lewin's contributions in astrophysics include the discovery of the first slowly rotating neutron star through all-sky balloon surveys and research in X-ray detection in investigations through satellites and observatories.
Lewin has received awards for teaching and is known for his lectures on physics and their publication online via YouTube, edX and MIT OpenCourseWare.
In December 2014, MIT revoked Lewin's Professor Emeritus title after an MIT investigation determined that Lewin had violated university policy by sexually harassing an online student in an online MITx course he taught in fall 2013.[1][2][3]
