Szabolcs Márka (Walter O. LeCroy Jr. Professor of Physics Columbia University, New York)
Szabolcs Márka is a co-discoverer of cosmic gravitational-waves; his broad research ranges from astrophysics to biophysics. After graduating from Kossuth Lajos University in Hungary he obtained his PhD at Vanderbilt University in the United States. He conducted research at Cornell University and the California Institute of Technology and became a faculty at Columbia University in 2004. His work is often covered by the international media ranging from the New York Times through Die Zeit to the Economist. His work is documented in over 600 peer-reviewed publications, amassed close to 80K citations, achieving an h-index of 123. He is a recipient of the Blavatnik Prize and co-recipient of many prizes, including the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics and the Gruber Cosmology Prize. He strongly believes that beyond seeking fundamental discoveries, scientists should also invest in bettering human life here on Earth through utilizing their experience and creativity. He is convinced that science can make us live happier, healthier, and longer lives; moreover, engagement in art+explorations can make it worth living!
