Well-known astronomer resigns after sexual harassment investigations

Geoff Marcy has resigned at the University of California, Berkeley. The university announced in a letter that Professor of Astronomy Geoff Marcy has resigned, and called the alleged sexual harassment "contemptible and inexcusable."

The announcement was made amidst the sexual harassment investigations where it was found that Marcy has violated Berkeley's sexual harassment policies in several cases between 2001 and 2010.

"We believe this outcome is entirely appropriate and have immediately accepted his resignation," Chancellor Nicholas Dirks and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Claude Steele said in a letter to the campus community.

"It's a relief to know that Geoff Marcy will no longer have access to UC Berkeley students," Jessica Kirkpatrick, one of the complainants in the sexual harassment investigation said. "I hope the university is using this opportunity to re-evaluate its process and policies so that vulnerable students have better protections in place to guard against sexual harassment from faculty moving forward."

"We also want to express our sympathy to the women who were victimized, and we deeply regret the pain they have suffered," Dirks and Steele said in the statement.

Marcy has also resigned as principal investigator of the $100 million Breakthrough Listen project, a large scientific research program aimed at finding life beyond Earth.

Complaints filed in 2014 alleged that Marcy tried to grope and kiss former students, NBC Bay Area reported. The investigation also dealt with incidents dating as far back as 2001, the station reported.

"While I do not agree with each complaint that was made, it is clear that my behavior was unwelcomed by some women," Marcy wrote on his website last week. "I take full responsibility and hold myself completely accountable."

Dirks and Steele said on October 14, 2015 that UC Berkeley is working on reforms "so that in the future we have different and better options for discipline of faculty."

 Geoff Marcy has resigned at the University of California, Berkeley. The university announced in a letter that Professor of Astronomy Geoff Marcy has resigned, and called the alleged sexual harassment "contemptible and inexcusable."

The announcement was made amidst the sexual harassment investigations where it was found that Marcy has violated Berkeley's sexual harassment policies in several cases between 2001 and 2010.

"We believe this outcome is entirely appropriate and have immediately accepted his resignation," Chancellor Nicholas Dirks and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Claude Steele said in a letter to the campus community.

"It's a relief to know that Geoff Marcy will no longer have access to UC Berkeley students," Jessica Kirkpatrick, one of the complainants in the sexual harassment investigation said. "I hope the university is using this opportunity to re-evaluate its process and policies so that vulnerable students have better protections in place to guard against sexual harassment from faculty moving forward."

"We also want to express our sympathy to the women who were victimized, and we deeply regret the pain they have suffered," Dirks and Steele said in the statement.

Marcy has also resigned as principal investigator of the $100 million Breakthrough Listen project, a large scientific research program aimed at finding life beyond Earth.

Complaints filed in 2014 alleged that Marcy tried to grope and kiss former students, NBC Bay Area reported. The investigation also dealt with incidents dating as far back as 2001, the station reported.

"While I do not agree with each complaint that was made, it is clear that my behavior was unwelcomed by some women," Marcy wrote on his website last week. "I take full responsibility and hold myself completely accountable."

Dirks and Steele said on October 14, 2015 that UC Berkeley is working on reforms "so that in the future we have different and better options for discipline of faculty."