Piet Hut

Piet Hut
Professor
Program in Interdisciplinary Studies

The focus of Piet Hut’s research is computational astrophysics, in particular multiscale multiphysics simulations of dense stellar systems. In addition, he is actively involved in interdisciplinary explorations in the areas of cognitive science and philosophy of science centered around questions involving the nature of knowledge. In both areas, he has recently started to explore the use of virtual worlds to enable remote online collaborative research through simultaneous “lab meetings” with colleagues from Europe, Japan, the United States, and elsewhere. The author of more than two hundred publications, Hut was honored in 2004 when a main-belt asteroid was named “17031 Piethut” by the International Astronomical Union's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature.

University of Amsterdam, Ph.D. 1981; University of California, Berkeley, Assistant Professor 1984–85; Institute for Advanced Study, Long-term Member 1981–84, Professor 1985–; Sloan Fellowship 1985–87 and 1994–96; Lindisfarne Association, Member; Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Corresponding Member; Kira Institute, President 1997–; B612 Foundation, Member of the Board 2002–; Petaflops Point Design Studies Award 1996

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