Michael J. Thompson
Michael J. Thompson joined NCAR as Director of the High Altitude Observatory, Associate Director of NCAR, and NCAR Senior Scientist in July 2010. This is not, however, his first connection with HAO: he was a long-term visiting scientist in 1988 and 1989, and an NCAR Affiliate Scientist from 2003 until his appointment as Director. Prior to his arrival, Michael was Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics in the University of Sheffield, UK; and previously he was Professor of Physics and Deputy Head of the Space and Atmospheric Physics Group at Imperial College, London.
Michael's scientific research activity is principally in helioseismology, asteroseismology, solar physics, and inverse problems. He has worked extensively over more than 20 years in developing and applying inverse techniques in helioseismology, and in particular measuring the stratification, rotation, and large-scale flows in the solar interior.
Michael and his wife Kate, who is a psychotherapeutic counselor and journal therapist, are delighted to live in the mountains above Boulder and they enjoy observing the wildlife and beauty of nature from their house. They also enjoy walking in the area, particularly at Walker Ranch, Brainard Lake, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Michael and Kate have one son, Robin, who is currently (at the time of writing) in school at the University of Oxford, UK, reading Mathematics. Michael's leisure interests include playing the piano and singing.
Email: mjt@ucar.edu
Phone: 303.497.1500
Postal Address: P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307
Shipping Address: 3090 Center Green Drive, Boulder, CO 80301