Richard Crowe, a University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo professor of physics and astronomy, was killed in a jeep accident while on a tour of Canyon de Chelly in Arizona on May 27, 2012. Crowe was a member of the UH Hilo faculty since 1987.
He is best known for his research on pulsating stars, stellar evolution and spectroscopy. Crowe was co-author of 47 scientific publications (16 first author), 25 of them listed in the Web of Science, with a Hirsch citation index of 13. Crowe also authored nine articles, two were listed in the Web of Science.
Crowe’s teaching responsibilities ranged from introductory physics and astronomy to quantum physics, classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, astrophysics and senior level quantum mechanics. He developed many online Web assignments and course presentations, including general astronomy, general astronomy laboratory, observational astronomy, stellar astrophysics, galactic astrophysics, comparative planetology and climate change.
Crowe was the astronomer-in-residence at UH Hilo’s ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi starting in 2006. In 2010, Crowe and ʻImiloa Planetarium Manager Shawn Laatsch were presented with the prestigious UH Hilo Taniguchi Award for Innovation in Teaching and Research for using the planetarium to teach introductory astronomy.
For more on the life and achievements of Richard Crowe, please visit the UH Hilo research website Keaohou or read the Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald story.
Adapted from the UH Hilo research website Keaohou
Editor’s Note: Richard A. Crowe’s memorial service will be held at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center on Sunday, June 24, 4:30 p.m. Casual attire and flowers welcome. Memorial donations may be made to the Richard A. Crowe Memorial Scholarship in Astronomy (checks to the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, 200 West Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720).
