2026 Rieke Prize Awarded to Dr. Dennis Zaritsky

The College of Science is pleased to announce Dr. Dennis Zaritsky as the recipient of the 2026 Rieke Prize. Through a generous gift from Marcia Rieke and George Rieke, this prize recognizes and rewards excellence in research demonstrated by faculty members in the College of Science.

Dr. Zaritsky is a Regents Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Deputy Director of Steward Observatory. A scholar of extraordinary breadth and originality, Dr. Zaritsky has reshaped our understanding of galaxies, dark matter, and cosmic evolution. His pioneering work on satellite galaxies revealed that spiral galaxies like our own are embedded in massive dark matter halos. He is equally renowned for his magnum opus on the Magellanic Clouds, where he and his team produced the first global, spatially resolved reconstructions of star formation histories in two entire galaxies. His innovative instrumentation and open data practices enabled a generation of discoveries.

A prolific researcher with over 300 refereed publications, Dr. Zaritsky has also mentored dozens of students and postdocs, many now leaders in academia and industry. As chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope Science Advisory Council, he has shaped national priorities in astronomy.

Dr. Zaritsky’s groundbreaking research has earned numerous honors throughout his career, including the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Most recently, he received the Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize recognizing his influential contributions to the study of galaxy formation and evolution.

Dr. Zaritsky will be presented with the Rieke Prize on April 16, 2026, at the Galileo Circle Awards Dinner.

Two Rieke Prize honorees will also be recognized at the dinner. The honorees are Dr. Bira van Kolck, Professor, Department of Physics, and Dr. Peter Troch, Professor and Head, Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.