Astronomer Pierre Martin, director of science operations at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), has been selected as the new director of the WIYN Observatory, which operates 3.5-meter and 0.9-meter telescopes on Kitt Peak.
Starting September 22, Martin succeeds George Jacoby, who will return to the scientific staff off the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), which shares office space with WIYN in Tucson, Arizona. NOAO is the "N" in the WIYN partnership, which includes the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University and Yale University.
"We're delighted to have Pierre on board. He brings outstanding experience from CFHT and great energy and enthusiasm for what we all hope to do at WIYN," says Charles Bailyn of Yale University, chair of the WIYN Board of Directors.
"The WIYN board, on behalf of the entire consortium, expresses its sincere gratitude for the contributions of George Jacoby since he became director in 2000," Bailyn adds. "George has led a talented team that has produced some of the best on-sky performance statistics of any telescope in the world, and he persuaded the partnership to embark on the most ambitious instrumentation project ever attempted by a 4-meter class facility, the One Degree Imager. George has set an imposing standard for those who will follow."
"The WIYN consortium offers a modern 3.5-meter telescope with the capability of conducting world-class astrophysical research on a daily basis and a smaller wide-field telescope that is excellent for complementary observations and student training," Martin says. "I am honored to have been selected for this challenging but quite exciting position."
During his 11 years at CFHT, Martin has been the support scientist for several instruments and currently serves as the manager of the astronomy group as well as the project scientist/manager for the queue-observing scheme. This mode, developed to optimize observing efficiency, science productivity and data quality, is now the only operational mode for the wide-field imaging and spectroscopy capabilities at CFHT.
"Innovative observing modes are one key to the success of modern observatories they offer scientists reliable, efficient and new possibilities for data acquisition, and they increase the value of the resulting data products," Martin says.
Martin earned his PhD. in astrophysics at the Universite Laval (Quebec City) in 1992. He then spent three years as a post-doc at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory in Tucson, followed by a two-year fellowship with the ESO New Technology Telescope in Chile. Martin's scientific interests include the chemical evolution of spiral galaxies, massive star formation, morphology and dynamics of barred spiral galaxies, galactic Cepheid variables, and planetary nebulae.
Martin, age 44, was born in St-Alexis de Matapedia, a small village in the eastern part of the Province of Quebec. He is married to Patricia E. Perez, a PhD. graduate of the University of Arizona, and his hobbies include music, drumming and history.
Stewart Prager, director of the Madison Symmetric Torus experiment at the University of Wisconsin and an internationally recognized leader in the field of fusion energy research, has been named director of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), effective this fall.
Prager, who also is the Dexter Professor of Physics at Wisconsin, will become the sixth director of the laboratory, which is funded by the DOE and managed by the University. His appointment as a professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton is expected to be acted on in the fall.
"We believe that there is no better person than Stewart Prager to lead the Plasma Physics Laboratory as it moves into the next phase in its distinguished history," said Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman. "The need for safe, abundant and environmentally benign sources of energy has never been greater, and we are confident that under his leadership PPPL will continue to make exceptional contributions to the field of fusion energy."
Provost Christopher Eisgruber added, "Stewart Prager is not only a superb scientist, but also a proven leader of the nation's fusion research community. All of us at Princeton are absolutely delighted that Dr. Prager has agreed to take the helm at the laboratory."
Prager joined the Wisconsin faculty in 1977 after conducting research for two years with the Fusion Energy Group at the General Atomic Co. (now known as General Atomics) in San Diego. He is a pioneer in the field of plasma physics and is internationally known for experiments that have contributed to both fundamental knowledge and the design of future reactors.
Prager has made his name as an experimentalist in the quest to develop fusion energy, the energy that is released when atomic particles fuse together to form heavier particles. Fusion fuels the sun and other stars. Prager has played a key role for decades in efforts to harness the energy potential of nuclear fusion by working with charged gases known as plasmas.
On the Wisconsin "Levitated Octupole" experiment, Prager worked with a graduate student, Michael Zarnstorff, now a principal research physicist at PPPL, detecting for the first time the so‑called bootstrap current, named because the electrical current is generated by the plasma itself. Prager and Zarnstorff will receive the American Physical Society's Dawson Prize for Excellence in Plasma Physics this November.
Prager has led research on another experimental device, the DOE‑funded Madison Symmetric Torus, directing a group that was the first in the world to completely characterize the chaotic flow of the charged gases swirling within. Shaped like a donut, the MST holds plasma heated to 10 million degrees. But instead of using a strong magnetic field to hold the plasma, Prager and his team have explored whether weaker ‑‑ and therefore more economical ‑‑ magnetic fields could accomplish the same task. The work has led to new insights about the properties of plasma.
Experiments that help identify and understand such phenomena are critical to the eventual goal of producing commercially viable fusion power plants.
Prager also has led the Center for Magnetic Self‑Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the "physics frontier center" involves Wisconsin, Princeton and five other institutions.
WASHINGTON‑‑An award commemorating a remarkable scientist who died in the 9/11 attacks was presented today to a man deemed a revolutionary at using satellite data for the good of humankind.
This year's Charles S. Falkenberg Award commends Daniel E. Irwin for creating an unprecedented monitoring and visualization system that's shared among scientists, scientific agencies, and governments in Central America and the Dominican Republic and that harnesses Earth imagery from space for the benefit of that part of the developing world.
Since Irwin pioneered the system in 2003 with funding from NASA, this system‑‑known as SERVIR ("to serve," in Spanish)‑‑ as been used to promote environmental sustainability through innovative application of space imagery and has enabled satellites to support responses to hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, algal blooms and other disasters across Central America.
A Central American environmental leader recalled in a letter supporting Irwin's award nomination the "incredible support" El Salvador received from Irwin and SERVIR in response to an earthquake, the eruption of the Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) volcano, and Hurricane Stan.
Irwin is now working to build similar systems and international collaborations in other developing regions of the world, such as East Africa.
"Daniel Irwin is leading a revolution in the application of Earth science information for sustainable development," said Woody W. Turner, NASA's program manager for ecological forecasting.
Irwin accepted the award today at the 2008 Summer Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Conference, which is taking place from 15‑18 July 2008, in Durham, New Hampshire. The Falkenberg Award, given jointly by ESIP and the American Geophysical Union (AGU), honors "a scientist under 45 years of age who has contributed to the quality of life, economic opportunities, and stewardship of the planet through the use of Earth science information and to the public awareness of the
importance of understanding our planet."
Charles S. Falkenberg was a computer scientist who advanced techniques for collecting and visualizing earth and environmental science data. He, his wife, and their two young daughters lost their lives when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
An earth scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., Daniel Irwin has more than 15 years of experience in using satellite remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Central America. He is currently the NASA
Project Director for SERVIR, which was developed at the NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. A SERVIR operational facility is located in Panama at the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) and is supported by the US Agency for International Development. SERVIR is considered an early achievement of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)‑‑a 70‑plus country effort to develop a 21st century network for earth observation
systems.
"On behalf of the entire SERVIR team, I'm deeply honored and humbled to receive the 2008 Charles S. Falkenberg Award," said Irwin today. "It's a real privilege to be able to transition valuable NASA Earth observation data and models developed by NASA
and other partner agencies to improve the quality of life in the
developing world."
While Irwin is not from the Central American region, he is "of the region," according to one of Irwin's colleagues from Panama. Irwin has developed numerous satellite remote sensing and GIS workshops and trained hundreds of Central American scientists
and researchers.
Prior to joining NASA, Irwin developed GIS laboratories for conservation organizations in Guatemala and for the Guatemalan government. On his own time, he created playgrounds and the Viva La Selva ("Long Live the Forest") library for children in Guatemalan villages. He also founded an Internet cafe and other small businesses as economic alternatives to tropical rainforest slash‑and‑burn agriculture.
Still, SERVIR is the focus of Irwin's award. Turner called it "an entirely new approach to environmental management." With SERVIR, "Dan Irwin and his team have shown all of us that managing our environment and resources on a regional scale is no longer a dream for the future but a reality today."
 Catherine O'Riordan, an ocean scientist with broad experience in program management, has been chosen as the new head of the AIP's Physics Resources Center, the institute announced today. The Physics Resources Center supports 10 physics societies by providing joint benefits and services to advance the science and profession of physics.
O'Riordan brings an outstanding leadership background from her prior positions that will enable the Physics Resources Center to continue to serve strongly the needs of the physical sciences community and AIP's member societies," said Louis Lanzerotti, the Chair of the Governing Board of AIP.
O'Riordan comes to AIP from the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in Washington, DC, where she managed ocean research and education programs including U.S. participation in an international program of basic research in marine geosciences. She formerly served as the manager of public affairs and other programs at the American Geophysical Union, a member society of AIP. Before working at AGU, O'Riordan conducted research with French and European colleagues on the physics and biogeochemistry of the marine environment along the coast of France.
"Catherine has excellent scientific credentials as well as first‑rate managerial and communication skills, which should enable her to make this highly visible post a success," said H. Frederick Dylla, AIP's executive director. O'Riordan will work closely with Dylla and the vice president of AIP's publishing operation, located in Melville, NY. She also plans to work with AIP's member societies to increase international cooperation and cultural diversity in the physics community. She has experience in managing programs that help early‑career scientists navigate their new lives and in connecting scientists with government decision‑makers.
O'Riordan holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics (Civil Engineering) from Stanford University.
O'Riordan will replace James H. Stith, who has served in the position for 10 years. She begins in her new position on September 2, 2008.
Dr. Michio Kaku, Henry Semat Professor at the City College of New York, is the 2008 recipient of the Klopsteg Memorial Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Dr. Eric Mazur, Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Harvard University, is the 2008 recipient of the Robert A. Millikan Award for notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics.
Klopsteg awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to the general public. The Klopsteg awardee presents a lecture on a physics topic of current significance suitable for non-specialists, in memory of Paul Klopsteg, AAPT Past President. Dr. Kaku will give his acceptance talk at the 2008 AAPT Summer Meeting in Edmondton, Canada, entitled, “Physics of the Impossible” on July 21, 2008 at 4 p.m.
“Professor Michio Kaku has brought exciting physics ideas to readers worldwide through his popular and highly readable books, TV appearances, and radio series. The Klopsteg Memorial Award honors Michio Kaku's outstanding contributions in the communication of the excitement of contemporary physics to the general public," says Harvey S. Leff, Chair, AAPT Awards Chair, as well as the 2008 AAPT Past President, and Professor Emeritus of Physics, California State Polytechnic University.
Dr. Kaku’s most popular and best selling books include "Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps and the Tenth Dimension" and "Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century", which have been widely translated in different languages. His recent book "Parallel Worlds: a Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos," was selected as a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction in the UK. Dr. Kaku hosts a weekly syndicated radio program, "Explorations in Science.”
Dr. Kaku has become a popular figure in mainstream media, due to his knowledge, as well as his accessible approach to explaining complex physics, quantum mechanics and other topics from a layperson's point of view. He is the co-creator of string field theory, a branch of string theory. He continues Einstein's search to unite the four fundamental forces of the universe into one unified theory.
About the Award
Established in 1990, this award is given to a notable physicist in memory of Paul Klopsteg. The Klopsteg Memorial Award recipient is asked to make a major presentation at an AAPT Summer Meeting on a topic of current significance suitable for non-specialists.
Previous Awardees:
2007 Neil deGrasse Tyson, Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, New York
2006 Lisa Randall, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,
2005 Wendy Freedman, Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena, CA
2004 Anton Zeilinger, University of Vienna, Austria
www.aapt.org/Grants/klopsteg.cfm
Dr. Eric Mazur will give an acceptance talk at the 2008 AAPT Summer Meeting in Edmonton, Canada, entitled, “Physics Reality Distortion: Why the World of Physics and the Real World are Different in Students’ Minds” on Tuesday July 21, 2008 at 4 p.m.
“Professor Eric Mazur's Peer Instruction technique has altered the landscape of physics teaching. Numerous teachers have adopted Peer Instruction, enlivening their classes by turning passive students into active learners. AAPT's Robert A. Millikan Medal recognizes Eric Mazur's outstanding scholarly contributions to physics education," says Harvey S. Leff, Chair, AAPT Awards Chair, as well as the 2008 AAPT Past President, and Professor Emeritus of Physics, California State Polytechnic University.
Dr. Mazur has devoted his life to science and is a recognized scientist and researcher, who leads n world-recognized optical physics research program. His strong interests in education, science policy, outreach and public perception of science leads him to devote considerable time to education research and identifying verifiable ways to improve science education. He believes that better science education for all, not just science majors, is vital for continued scientific progress of our nation.
The 1990 development of Peer Instruction, a method of teaching large lecture classes interactively, has attracted a large following among AAPT members and others nationally and internationally. The impact of Dr. Mazur’s teaching method is significant for physics teaching. His more recent collaborative production of an award-winning DVD, Interactive Teaching, has just continued this success.
About the Award
The Robert A Millikan Award, established in 1962, recognizes teachers who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics. The Millikan Medal recipient is asked to make a presentation at the Ceremonial Session of an AAPT Summer Meeting. A $7,500 monetary award, The Millikan Medal, an Award Certificate, and travel expenses to the meeting are presented to the recipient.
Previous Awardees
2007, David R. Solokoff, University of Oregon, Eugene
2006, Art Hobson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
2005, John S. Rigden, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
http://www.aapt.org/Grants/millikan.cfm
About AAPT
AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators—with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics education. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland. The results are not only a deeper appreciation of the teaching profession, but most importantly, more enthusiastic involvement from their students.
Contact information for AAPT:
Linda Ware Dylla, AAPT Communications
301.209.3306
ldylla@aapt.org
Steven Cowley, a professor of theoretical physics at UCLA and Imperial College, will become Director of the UK's Culham Fusion Science Center (formerly called the Culham Laboratory) effective in September, following the retirement of the current director, Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith.
Cowley did his undergraduate degree at Oxford and received his Ph.D. from Princeton University. He worked at Culham from 1985 through 1987 and subsequently worked at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Imperial College and UCLA.
Liu Chen, Professor at Department of Physics and Astronomy , University of California, Irvine, and an APS Fellow, received the 2008 Hannes Alfven Prize for outstanding contributions to plasma physics during the 35th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics held June 9‑ 13, 2008 at Crete, Greece.
His citations are as follows:
"for his many seminal works on Alfven wave physics in laboratory and space plasmas and his continuing contribution of new ideas, including: the theories of geomagnetic pulsations, Alfven wave heating, fishbone oscillations, the formulation of the nonlinear gyrokinetic equations and fundamental contributions to drift wave instabilities and turbulence"
After the award ceremony, Liu Chen delivered the Alfven Lecture titled "Alfven Waves: A Journey between Space and Fusion Plasmas".
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