Former observatory head removed from university post after 'unacceptable behavior' allegations: report
Leiden University and the European Southern Observatory have cut ties with the astronomer.
A Netherlands university has removed a former observatory head from his post after allegations of "extremely unacceptable behavior", according to a report.
Tim de Zeeuw, now a former astronomer with Leiden University, confirmed the removal Wednesday (Oct. 26) in a statement via a lawyer to Physics World. He was also past director-general of the European Southern Observatory between 2007 and 2017, and past director of Leiden Observatory from 2003 to 2007.
The statement said the astronomer "cannot agree" with the university's executive board decision, but he will follow "all measures imposed," the report added.
Related: #MeToo in space: We must address the potential for sexual harassment and assault away from Earth
Leiden officials issued a statement on Oct. 18 that reported the results of an investigation caused it to remove a professor, which it did not name, who "subjected various colleagues to intimidating and unacceptable behavior for a longer period." The professor was suspended while the investigation took place, officials added.
"The professor will not be allowed to return to the university [and] will no longer be allowed to supervise Ph.D. candidates," Leiden officials wrote, pledging they would "look critically at the lessons that we as a university must learn from this, and how we can ensure that unacceptable behavior is addressed sooner in the future."
The Leiden investigation took place "after various members of staff had submitted a complaint to the dean about the professor in question," university officials added, noting the investigation included an independent complaints committee as well as the university's executive board.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!
Both the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany and the intergovernmental astronomy organization ESO also cut ties with the former Leiden professor. The removal from Max Planck was reported in Physics World, while ESO officials issued their own statement Wednesday.
"We express our deep support and sympathy for the victims of this harassment. ESO is strongly against all forms of harassment, bullying and other unacceptable behavior," ESO officials said, adding the astronomer is banned from all observatory premises, meetings and information technology facilities.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace