Mind at work

"Neil's a great guy," said Jack Horner, curator of paleontology at MSU's Museum of the Rockies and Regents Professor of Paleontology. Horner team-teaches a class for University Honors students with Cornish and Michael Miles, director of MSU's University Honors Program. The course, called "Origins," explores the origins of the earth, universe, humanities and religious thought.

"We have a whole lot of fun teaching Origins," Horner added. "Neil's a terrific thinker, and the students really like him."

Bill Hiscock, physics professor and head of the MSU Department of Physics, said Cornish is one of the most outstanding young scientists worldwide working on Einstein's theory of general relativity today.

"MSU has a long history of outstanding research in this area, which Neil is now continuing and strengthening," Hiscock said. "Relativity and gravitational wave astronomy attract many students to the MSU physics department's programs, and Neil does an excellent job of involving and mentoring students in his research program."

Cornish said he often comes up with his ideas or solutions to astrophysics problems while walking to and from work or hiking in the woods around Bozeman. (When looking for a house, he told his real estate agent that he wanted to live within one mile of Montana Hall so he could walk to his office in the Engineering/Physical Sciences Building. He pulled out a map of Bozeman, stuck the tip of a compass into Montana Hall and drew a circle to emphasize the point.)

"It's better to press, then step back," Cornish said. "Your brain can process without you consciously thinking about it. Most of the problems I solve have been when I wasn't thinking about it."

These days, Cornish has a variety of diversions besides walking. He cooks for the family, regularly making gourmet meals ranging from Middle Eastern cuisine to Asian. "A complete wine nut," he can talk for hours about his favorite wines. He's a Trekkie who dresses up like Captain Kirk or Han Solo at Halloween while Jamie dresses up like Princess Leia. Cornish and Jamie have two children under age 3, Ellie and James.

The family enjoys living a few blocks from Jean, and Cornish enjoys seeing the growing bond between grandmother and grandchildren. The Cornishes have a dog named Bondi and a cat named Loki. They try to return to Australia every couple of years to visit the rest of Neil's family.

Bozeman is a long way from Australia, Princeton and Cambridge, but it suits him, Cornish said. Besides allowing him to hike, it offers him the chance to attend a variety of lectures and learn from scientists in other fields.

Jamie -- who has worked for such companies as "Disney" and "Discover" magazines, and as a former consultant for "Sesame Street" and "Nickelodeon" magazines -- is now director of marketing and public programs at the Museum of the Rockies -- said Bozeman is an intellectually rich town.

"It's incredible," Jamie said about living in Bozeman. "Half our friends are so jealous. Half think we are insane."

LISA Science blog
Neil Cornish profile: MSU interactive media Meet our Minds.

Return to regular view	Text-only              Email this article	Published: 11/27/2007