In Memory of Prof. George Smoot

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Prof. George Smoot, IAS Professor-at-Large and Professor Emeritus of Physics, who left us at his home in Paris on September 24, 2025. Prof. Smoot was not only an exceptional educator and researcher but also a mentor and friend to many. His absence is felt profoundly by all who had the privilege to know him, learn from him, and collaborate with him.

Prof. Smoot earned his Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Physics, followed by a PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He joined the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1970. He was Chair of the Endowment Fund "Physics of the Universe" of Paris Center for Cosmological Physics.  In 2016, he was appointed IAS Helmut & Anna Pao Sohmen Professor-at-Large by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His influence spanned across borders, with numerous universities awarding him prestigious degrees and professorships.

For decades, Prof. Smoot devoted himself to pursuing the origin of the universe. As a leading scientist on the COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) satellite mission, he and his team provided the first detailed measurements of the variations in the cosmic microwave background radiation, revealing how small density variations in the early universe grew into the galaxies and large-scale structures we observe today. These groundbreaking observations confirmed key predictions of the Big Bang theory and offered profound insights into the origins of galaxies and stars and evolution of the universe. For this monumental achievement, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for the “discovery of the black body form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation”. A great teacher and a keen advocate of popular science, Prof. Smoot received the Oersted Medal in 2009 for his notable contributions to the teaching of physics. 

Throughout his time at HKUST, Prof. Smoot inspired many with captivating talks on a variety of topics, igniting their passions for science and encouraging them to explore the universe's mysteries. His wisdom, humour and unwavering dedication will be remembered with great admiration and gratitude. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and loved ones as they navigate this profound loss.