Johannes Alphonsus Marie "Johan" Bleeker (born 20 July 1942) is a Dutch space research and technology scientist. He was director of the
Netherlands Institute for Space Research
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research is the Dutch expertise institute for space research. The Institute develops and uses innovative technology for research in space, focusing on astrophysical research, Earth science and planetary resea ...
from 1983 to 2003. He was involved in the setting up of the Horizon 2000 and Horizon 2000+ long term space science programs of the
European Space Agency.
Career
Bleeker was born in
Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden (; fy, Ljouwert, longname=yes /; Stadsfries dialects, Town Frisian: ''Liwwadden''; Leeuwarder dialect: ''Leewarden'') is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in Fri ...
on 20 July 1942.
He attended the
Hogere Burgerschool. Bleeker subsequently studied
engineering physics
Engineering physics, or engineering science, refers to the study of the combined disciplines of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, particularly computer, nuclear, electrical, electronic, aerospace, materials or mechanical en ...
at
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology ( nl, Technische Universiteit Delft), also known as TU Delft, is the oldest and largest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands. As of 2022 it is ranked by QS World University Rankings among ...
. He continued his studies at
Leiden University, where in 1971 he obtained his
doctorate
A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...
under
Hendrik C. van de Hulst
Hendrik Christoffel "Henk" van de Hulst (19 November 1918 – 31 July 2000) was a Dutch astronomer and mathematician.
In 1944, while a student in Utrecht, he predicted the existence of the 21 cm hyperfine line of neutral interstellar hydrogen. ...
with a thesis titled: ''The diffuse X-ray sky''.
Bleeker stayed at Leiden University and worked at the Cosmic-Ray Working Group until 1983, during the final two years he was group leader. In 1983 he became director of the Utrecht Laboratory for Space Research, which later became the Netherlands Institute for Space Research
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research is the Dutch expertise institute for space research. The Institute develops and uses innovative technology for research in space, focusing on astrophysical research, Earth science and planetary resea ...
. Bleeker was director until 2003, he was succeeded by .
Apart from his position at the Netherlands Institute for Space Research Bleeker was a professor of space research and exploration at Utrecht University
Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...
. He was an extraordinary professor (Dutch: ) from 1985 to 1991, and was then appointed as full professor. He took up emeritus status in 2007.[
]
Research
The research and projects of Bleeker have covered amongst others: high energy astrophysics, cosmic-ray physics and X-ray astronomy.[
Bleeker chaired the Survey Committee that set up the long term space science program ]Horizon 2000
The Science Programme of the European Space Agency is a long-term programme of space science and space exploration missions. Managed by the agency's Directorate of Science, The programme funds the development, launch, and operation of missions ...
of the European Space Agency and also took part in establishing the follow-on program Horizon 2000+. In 1996 he publicly criticized the budget constraints on these programs, which were imposed by the European ministers.
Honors and awards
Bleeker was elected a member of Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1988. He was elected a member of Academia Europaea
The Academia Europaea is a pan-European Academy of Humanities, Letters, Law, and Sciences.
The Academia was founded in 1988 as a functioning Europe-wide Academy that encompasses all fields of scholarly inquiry. It acts as co-ordinator of Europea ...
in 1989.
In 2002 Bleeker was made a Commander in the Order of the Netherlands Lion
The Order of the Netherlands Lion, also known as the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands ( nl, De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw, french: L'Ordre du Lion Néerlandais) is a Dutch order of chivalry founded by King William I of the Netherlands on ...
. He was appointed honorary member of the in 2007. Minor planet 9693 Bleeker is named after him.
References
External links
Profile at Leiden University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleeker, Johan
1942 births
Living people
Commanders of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Delft University of Technology alumni
20th-century Dutch engineers
Leiden University alumni
Members of Academia Europaea
Members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
People from Leeuwarden
Space scientists
Academic staff of Utrecht University