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Adam Frank
Portrait of Adam Frank

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

Adam Frank

Professor of astrophysics, science commentator, and popular author

Adam Frank is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester. A self-described “evangelist of science,” Adam regularly writes and speaks about subjects like intelligent life forms in the universe, high-energy-density physics, space exploration and missions, climate change, and more.

Accolades and highlights

Request to interview Adam Frank

Career in higher education

Adam Frank received his PhD in physics (1992) from the University of Washington and held postdoctoral and visiting scientist positions at Leiden University and the University of Minnesota.

Adam joined the University of Rochester in 1996. Serving as the Helen F. & Fred H. Gowen Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Adam studies star formation and evolution, as well as develops tools for simulating the cosmos. Through his research, Adam has written numerous academic papers and books, as well as shared his knowledge in a variety of media appearances.

Learn more about Adam Frank’s academic career on his faculty departmental profile page.

Media appearances

Adam Frank is a frequent on-air commentator for live interviews and segments on outlets such as CNN and NPR. Adam also regularly contributes to written publications, including The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Scientific American.

Adam also served as science advisor for Marvel’s Doctor Strange, and has appeared on numerous science documentaries such as Netflix’s Alien Worlds.

Members of the media can request an interview with Adam Frank

Selection of recent media appearances

Webb Space Telescope launch
CNN Live, Dec. 25, 2021

Blue Origin Launch
CNN Live, July 7, 2021

UFO Theories in Wake of US Report
NBC Today Show, June 6, 2021

Light of the stars book by Adam Frank

Books and papers

Adam Frank is a popular author—writing books, academic papers, and as part of many media and news reports.

Adam has authored four popular books arguing for the beauty of science and against science denial. His most recent book is Light of the Stars (W.W. Norton, 2018), which NPR deemed “a valuable perspective on the most important problem of our time.” In it, he argues that human civilization can survive climate change by learning from the experiences of extraterrestrial civilizations.

Adam also co-founded the Big Think’s 13.8 blog and NPR’s 13.7 Cosmos and Culture blog, which attracted more than 13 million yearly visits during its seven-year run from 2011 to 2018.

Selection of academic papers

Rochester headlines

Requests for interviews

Adam Frank is no stranger to the media—he is frequently interviewed for national print, television, and radio pieces, along with appearing as a live guest on network news shows and segments.

If you’d like to talk to Adam for a quick comment or something more in-depth, please contact Peter Iglinski, University of Rochester Communications Officer and Media Relations Specialist.

Email: peter.iglinski@rochester.edu
Phone: (585) 764-7002

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