Publications: ADS | arXiv | inSPIRE

Research Fields:

• Cosmology

Theoretical astrophysics, cosmology and elementary particle physics, cosmology. Michael S. Turner is a theoretical cosmologist, who coined the term dark energy.

Turner helped establish the interdisciplinary field that combines together cosmology and elementary particle physics to understand the origin and evolution of the Universe. His research focuses on the earliest moments of creation, and he has made contributions to inflationary cosmology, particle dark matter and structure formation, the theory of big bang nucleosynthesis, and the nature of dark energy.

Past Graduate Students: Chaz Shapiro (2008, Physics); Gilbert P. Holder (2001, Astronomy and Astrophysics); Jeffrey B. Jewell (2000, Astronomy and Astrophysics); Michael T. Ressell (1991, Astronomy and Astrophysics)

Past courses:

• [ASTR 18200] The Origin and Evolution of the Universe: 2016 - 2017 (Spring)
• [ASTR 24200] The Physical Universe: 2010 - 2011 (Winter)
• [ASTR 28200] Current Topics in Astrophysics: 2014 - 2015 (Spring); 2007 - 2008 (Spring)
• [ASTR 32100] Cosmology II: 2008 - 2009 (Winter)
• [ASTR 40700] AstroPolitics: 2009 - 2010 (Autumn)
• [PHSC 12000] Origin of the Universe and How We Know: 2013 - 2014 (Spring); 2011 - 2012 (Spring)
• [PHSC 12600-99] Matter, Energy, Space, and Time (Paris): 2018 - 2019 (Spring)
• [PHSC 12620] The Big Bang: 2017 - 2018 (Spring)

Past Department Committees:

• Brinson Lectureship: 2018 - 2019 (Chair)
• Strategic Planning: 2017 - 2018 (Chair)
• Adler Planetarium Committee: 2016 - 2017 (Chair) | 2015 - 2016 (Chair) | 2014 - 2015 (Chair)
• Awards: 2018 - 2019 | 2017 - 2018 | 2016 - 2017 | 2015 - 2016 (Chair) | 2014 - 2015 | 2013 - 2014
• Appointments and Promotions: 2013 - 2014 | 2012 - 2013
• Budget and Policy: 2018 - 2019 | 2011 - 2012 (Former Chair)