One of the world鈥檚 leading exoplanet hunters, Geoff Marcy of the University of California, Berkeley, has been found to have violated his institution鈥檚 sexual harassment policy during a series of incidents involving students between 2001 and 2010. But the university isn鈥檛 going to suspend or dismiss him 鈥� unless he does it again.
Marcy is one of the principal investigators on NASA鈥檚 Kepler space telescope, which is responsible for the discovery of most of the nearly 2000 exoplanets known today, and has been tipped for a Nobel prize for his work in the field.
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On Friday revealed allegations from four women that Marcy had repeatedly engaged in inappropriate physical behaviour, sparking an investigation at Berkeley.
鈥淭he investigation concluded with a finding that Professor Marcy violated campus sexual harassment policy,鈥� said the university in a statement provided to New 杏吧原创. Marcy has now agreed to 鈥渁bide by clear expectations concerning his future interactions with students鈥�, said the statement. 鈥淲ere he to fail to meet those expectations, the terms of the agreement provide that he would be immediately subject to sanctions that could include suspension or dismissal.鈥�
Unwelcome behaviour
鈥淲hile I do not agree with each complaint that was made, it is clear that my behavior was unwelcomed by some women,鈥� said , posted online 鈥淚 take full responsibility and hold myself completely accountable for my actions and the impact they had. For that and to the women affected, I sincerely apologize.鈥�
But some in the astronomy community feel that Marcy has not been sufficiently sanctioned for his behaviour. 鈥淕eoff鈥檚 inappropriate actions toward and around women in astronomy is one of the biggest 鈥榦pen secrets鈥� at any exoplanets or AAS [American Astronomical Society] meeting,鈥� said John Johnson of Harvard University, a former student of Marcy鈥檚, . 鈥溾�楿nderground鈥� networks of women pass information about Geoff to junior scientists in an attempt to keep them safe.鈥�
He and others have started an online petition to support Marcy鈥檚 victims, which at time of publication had .
Image information: Geoff Marcy (credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Breakthrough Initiatives)
