Welcome to the next instalment of our ‘Spotlight on’ series where we celebrate the world-leading work of our academics. Professor Carlos Frenk’s pioneering work on dark matter has fundamentally shaped modern cosmology and our understanding of the Universe.
Born in Mexico to a German Jewish father and Mexican mother, Carlos Frenk cites formative experiences and figures in his youth that ignited his passion for the Universe.
In his teens, whilst on a camping trip in southern Mexico, he remembers being captivated by a night sky ‘alight with stars’. He knew then he wanted to spend his life understanding its origins.
An inspiring high school physics teacher, and an enlightened university supervisor furthered this commitment, despite his family fearing that studying physics would not lead to a ‘proper job’!
After studying for his undergraduate degree in Mexico, Carlos relocated to Cambridge, UK, for his PhD. His research here gave the first evidence that there was dark matter in the Milky Way – a revolutionary idea at the time.
Carlos went on to work in Berkeley, California in the early 1980s, at a time when modern cosmology was born. His work sought to explain the origin of the “cosmic web”, the intricate filamentary pattern traced by galaxies in space.
Pioneering the use of computer simulations in cosmology, this work led to the development of the Cold Dark Matter theory which gave rise to the Standard Model of Cosmology.
These were controversial and novel ideas, and ones that Carlos credits to a spirit of rebellion amongst him and his collaborators, and a refusal to be put down by ‘the establishment’.
In 1986 Carlos joined Durham University and over nearly 40 years has continued this pioneering work at Durham. He credits the University with giving him opportunities to collaborate, innovate and ultimately discover more about the infinite wonders of the Universe.
Alongside his colleagues, Carlos has worked to make our Department of Physics a world-leading centre of excellence. Thanks in no small part to his work and enterprise, Durham is now home to over 150 astronomers, forming one of the most distinguished astronomy and cosmology groups in the world.
Carlos has also been at the forefront of an enduring philanthropic relationship with Durham alumni Sir Peter Ogden. Together, through a shared love of physics and a deep friendship, the two have collaborated on the development of the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics. This is made up of the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Institute for Computational Cosmology (ICC), which Carlos directed from its creation in 2002 until 2020.
Today, the ICC investigates the mysteries of the cosmos from its home in a cutting-edge building designed by renowned New York architect Daniel Libeskind.
Carlos is widely recognised as a leader in his field. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2004 and received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2014. He was also appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2017, for services to cosmology and the public dissemination of science.
Despite his achievements, Carlos remains driven by what he terms ‘unfinished business with the Universe’. He spends considerable time testing his theory of Cold Dark Matter, arguing that if it is wrong, he wants to discover so himself – and that this is how science advances.
He hopes to witness the discovery of dark matter in his lifetime and is excited by the vast data that major telescopes like the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can provide.
Reflecting on his success, Carlos believes that ‘good luck, good timing and inspirational people’ have been at the centre of his achievements. He encourages students and researchers he works with to rebel, question established ideas and never be afraid of pushing the boundaries. Advice that is fitting from a visionary scientist who has dedicated his life to understanding the mysteries of the Universe.
Image credit: Amanda Benson, BBC.
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