David Block

David Block is professor emeritus in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Block was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London at the age of 19 and has been a visiting research astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU), the European Southern Observatory in Germany, the California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University.

Biography

Professor David Block is an astronomer and highly sought-after inspirational speaker who has devoted over 40 years of his life to encouraging audiences around the globe to always look up—and to never give up! He speaks from the heart as he shares in-depth lessons from his world of research.

Block was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London at the age of 19. A year later, his first research paper, on relativistic astrophysics, was published by the Royal Astronomical Society in London. He has been a visiting research astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU), the European Southern Observatory in Germany, the California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. He has also published over 100 astronomy research journal articles and his research has twice been featured on the cover of Nature.

Until the end of 2019, Block served as a professor in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He now holds the title of professor emeritus.

Professor Block has received many awards and acknowledgments, including the NSTF-BHP Billiton Award recognizing him as one of South Africa’s foremost communicators in science. He received the University of the Witwatersrand’s highest research accolade: the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award.

Biography

Professor David Block is an astronomer and highly sought-after inspirational speaker who has devoted over 40 years of his life to encouraging audiences around the globe to always look up—and to never give up! He speaks from the heart as he shares in-depth lessons from his world of research.

Block was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London at the age of 19. A year later, his first research paper, on relativistic astrophysics, was published by the Royal Astronomical Society in London. He has been a visiting research astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU), the European Southern Observatory in Germany, the California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. He has also published over 100 astronomy research journal articles and his research has twice been featured on the cover of Nature.

Until the end of 2019, Block served as a professor in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He now holds the title of professor emeritus.

Professor Block has received many awards and acknowledgments, including the NSTF-BHP Billiton Award recognizing him as one of South Africa’s foremost communicators in science. He received the University of the Witwatersrand’s highest research accolade: the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award.