Congratulations to Physics Professor and JILA fellow Margaret Murnane, who has recently been elected to the prestigious American Philosophical Society (APS).

Murnane is the fourth CU-ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ faculty member to be elected to APS. There were 34 people worldwide elected in 2015 to the society, which was founded in 1743 in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin, who later became its first president.

Murnane is known internationally for her  -- much of it with her husband and colleague, JILA fellow and CU-ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ physics Professor Henry Kapteyn -- which includes conducting optical and X-ray science using tabletop light sources. The group develops new ultrafast laser and coherent X-ray sources as part of its research in optical sciences, using the light sources for new experiments in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering. Ultrafast coherent X-ray beams are expected to be indispensable tools for scientists in developing practical nanoscale machines.

Murnane is the recipient of dozens of national and international awards. She has been elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was awarded a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship or β€œgenius grant” in 2000. Murnane and Kapteyn shared the 2010 R.W. Wood Prize from the Optical Society of America.

View the CU-ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ .

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Congratulations to Professor Shijie Zhong, who was recently elected a 2014 Fellow of the American Geophysical Union. Dr. Zhong was recognized, "for fundamental, profound, and unselfish contributions to advancing the understanding of the dynamics of the Earth, Moon, and the terrestrial planets." The  was made on Tuesday, July 29th. 

Dr. Shijie Zhong's research is focused on understanding the dynamics of planetary interiors and its relation to observations at the planetary surfaces including gravity, magnetics, topography, volcanism, and tectonics. In his work, Dr. Zhong uses methods of fluid dynamics with both numerical and theoretical models. 

Zhong joins sixty-one members of the 2014 class of Fellows and will be recognized during the Honors Ceremony at the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting in December in San Francisco. According to their Web site, The AGU limits the annual class of new fellows to 0.1% of it membership. 

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Congratulations to Professor Steven Pollock, who was named a 2013 U.S. Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The announcement was made during a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Thursday, November 14th.

The awards recognize the most outstanding undergraduate educators in the country. Pollock is the second CU-ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ professor to win a U.S. Professor of the Year Award. Nobel laureate Carl Wieman, also a physics professor, was honored with the designation in 2004. 

β€œIt’s a real honor for me, but more importantly, I believe it reflects very strongly on the unique culture of support for education at CU-ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ,” Pollock said. β€œIt’s also remarkable to me that they are giving the award to another physicist in the same department. I think that really says something nice about the work we are all doing.”

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[video:https://youtu.be/ioYYUY2pSEI]

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CU ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ Department of Physics and JILA Professor Ana Maria Rey has been named a Woman Physicist of the Month by the American Physical Society. The award is designed to highlight woman physicists and their outstanding contributions to the discipline.

Dr. Rey joined the faculty in 2008. Her research focuses on AMO physics and precision measurement, specifically ultracold atoms and molecules loaded in optical lattices. Her cross-discipline research and innovative collaborations have resulted in 14 peer-reviewed publications in a single year.

According to the APS announcement, β€œher remarkable passion and enthusiasm for physics is truly inspiring."

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Physics Professor and JILA Fellow Margaret Murnane was recently selected by President Obama to chair the National Medal of Science Committee. The appointment was approved on Wedenesday, December 21st.

In a news release, President Obama said, "These fine public servants bring both a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles. Our nation will be well-served by these individuals, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come."

Murnane's work in optics is both nationally and internationally recognized. She was recently awarded the prestigious Royal Dublin Society Irish Times Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence Award.

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