2007 Announcement Archive

New UCF Center of Excellence named in honor of Charles Townes

7 May 2007

Laser pioneer honored by university.

SPIE announces new award

SPIE now accepting submissions for Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award

Statement from friends and colleagues of Art Guenther

Statement from SPIE Past President Don O'Shea

24 April 2007

Art understood both scientific research and politics and he worked long and hard to assure the support of research in science and engineering going wherever the opportunity presented itself: Washington, Albuquerque, SPIE and OSA meetings, and the International Commission for Optics. His work as a member of SPIE's ESTEP committee for many years helped set the agenda and move the Society's involvement in a range of advocacies.

Art was a traveler and a great one to travel with. At the opening reception of the SPIE's 50th anniversary celebration in San Diego, the Guenthers and O'Sheas decided to go on a Lewis and Clark tour on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Last spring we took that trip and Joan and Art's comments and companionship made the trip more vivid and delightful. We will miss him.

Statement from SPIE Past President Ted Saito
24 April 2007

Penn State alumni Art Guenther, Paul Yoder, and Ted Saito at the SPIE 50th Anniversary banquet in 2005.

Our community has lost a hard-driving and well-connected crusader with Art Guenther's passing. Art was the "go-to-guy" if you wanted to know who were the leading people in many areas (and he knew their contact information!). I'll also be always indebted to Art for making the connections for me to get my PhD at his beloved Penn State and mentoring me in my early days "at the bench."

Statement from Maria L. Calvo, Secretary, International Commission for Optics
25 April 2007

Maria L. Calvo, Art Guenther and Rene Dandliker at the 19th ICO Congress in 2002.

It is a hard task to write about the recent loss of such a key person to ICO. Art's many different activities reflected his multi-faceted personality. He was brilliant, talented, and deeply involved in the development and expansion of optics and photonics.

I had the opportunity of working with Art during his various periods as a member of the ICO bureau. He was elected ICO Vice-President for the term 1996-1999, then ICO President during 1999-2002, and later ICO Past-President 2002-2005.

Art was always working on projects to benefit the optics community. He focused not only on developing science centers and institutions, but made himself available to colleagues from all over the world.

Art was interested in expanding the education and training of young researchers, professionals, and photonics technicians through his coordination of training programs. He was deeply involved in ETOP meetings, an international collaboration of OSA, SPIE, and IEEE/LEOS. He worked hard for the development of centers in Africa, including the LAM (African Laser, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Sciences) Network. Art was one of the organizers of the first ICO Topical meeting in Senegal in 2001. He was behind the development of the book "Harnessing Light" and many other texts, and also pushed for free educational texts to centers in developing countries.

ICO wishes to express its condolences to SPIE, OSA, the USAC-ICO Committee, and the entire optics community. Finally, we would like to express our sympathies for his wife Joan, his great companion, and his family.

Statement from SPIE Past President Tony DeMaria
24 April 2007

I was saddened to learn of the recent death of Art Guenther. I knew Art since the late 1960s when he was Chief Scientist of the AF Weapons Lab in Albuquerque NM and he became interested in optical damage effects in optical materials. Thinking back, I can hardly remember a SPIE, OSA, LEOS or APS optical/laser meeting that I attended that Art did not attend. His interests were broad; they included education and public policy in addition to his interest in optics. He was an active participant in all four societies. He will be missed.

Statement from M.J. Soileau, V.P. for Research and Professor of Optics, ECE & Physics, University of Central Florida
25 April 2007

Art made major scientific contributions in the areas of laser-induced damage in optical materials and pulsed power generation. His technical contributions were leveraged by the many students and post docs that he mentored and his tireless efforts to disseminate scientific knowledge through international technical conferences.

"Doc" Guenther immersed himself in all areas of optics education from high school, to technical training, to Ph.D. programs. He worked tirelessly on behalf of the optics and laser industries in New Mexico, in the USA, and throughout the world. According to his oldest daughter, TK, Art said the greatest impact to him came from those who provided opportunity and encouragement -- and Art carried forward those gifts into his relationships with others.

Art treated scientific meetings not only as a gathering of technical experts but also as a gathering of friends. His beloved Boulder Damage Meeting is a good example. The conference always started with a reception the evening before the technical program. He personally selected the refreshments, especially the wine, to be served.

Art was a fun, friendly, guy, a devoted husband and father, and a proud grandfather. The world of optics owes his wife Joan, and daughters Tracie (TK) and Wendy, their husbands Dan and Ralph, and granddaughters Chelsea and Cassy, our eternal gratitude for sharing Art with us.

Statement from Bob Breault, CEO of Breault Research Optics
25 April 2007

I have been highly honored to have done long walks and sensitive talks withArt in more countries than I can count. His litany of accomplishments is as long as anyone's and covers more countries. He was always a voice and a champion of optics and photonics. It has been my pleasure, a real enjoyable down-to-earth pleasure to walk the halls of Congress with Art. I miss him deeply already.

In Memoriam: Art Guenther

23 April 2007

Arthur H. Guenther, physicist, profess or, and worldwide ambassador for optics and photonics, died April 21 at his home in New Mexico.

Guenther had a long and distinguished career in optics and photonics, both as an academic and as a contributor to the economic development of New Mexico. As a defense scientist he was known throughout the world for his work in nuclear simulation, laser technologies, pulsed power and nuclear technology. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Distinguished Senior Executive Award, presented to him by President Ronald Reagan. He received the SPIE Directors Award in 2002.

Guenther was chief scientist of the Air Force Weapons Laboratory and held a similar position at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Guenther also served as Science Advisor to three New Mexico governors. He served on innumerable advisory committees for research institutions over the years. Recently he was a member of a National Academy panel to recommend management criteria for Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The panel was asked to identify key management principles to ensure high scientific quality in programs and activities at the two laboratories.

He was elected to the Russian Academy of Science, Ural Division, for his work in enhancing communication between the Soviet Union and the United States in optics as well as other fields. He also served as President of the International Commission for Optics from 1999 to 2002. He was a past member of the SPIE Board of Directors, and a long-time co-chair of the annual Boulder Damage Symposium, the annual conference on the physics/technology of materials for high power/high energy lasers.

Through the Alliance for Photonic Technology, Guenther was the principal driving force behind the development of the New Mexico Optics Industry Association (NMOIA), a trade organization of optics-related companies in New Mexico. He brought the university community and industry-based organizations together to quantify and qualify the criteria for education and skill sets of graduates needed by companies in the area. The NMOIA had planned to honor Guenther with its first Lifetime Service Award at its meeting this week in Albuquerque.

"The world will be a poorer place without him," said Paul McManamon, Immediate Past President of SPIE. "He always had a smile, a laugh, and was always positive."

SPIE Executive Director Eugene Arthurs said that the loss of Guenther leaves a big gap in the technical community. "Optics has lost one of its strongest advocates," Arthurs said. "The number of initiatives he was involved with shows us how much impact one individual can have."

According to Don O'Shea, past president of SPIE, "Art understood both scientific research and politics, and he worked long and hard to assure the support of research in science and engineering, going wherever the opportunity presented itself."

Guenther is survived by his wife, Joan, daughters Tracie and Wendy and their husbands, and two granddaughters.

Memorial contributions in Art's name can be made to NM MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) c/o Pamela Caudill, 2808 Central SE, ABQ, NM 87106 or a technical society of your choice.

Additional statements from friends and colleagues of Art Guenther

Video of Art Guenther describing his involvement as a science advisor to the governor of New Mexico, and with the National Technology Transfer Center in Washington, D.C. He also shares his advice for young people considering optics and photonics careers. QuickTime|Windows Media (QuickTime 7.0 / Windows Media Player 6.0 required)

SPIE offers condolences to Virginia Tech

17 April 2007

SPIE sends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy. As several were from the Engineering Department, they had interacted with many people in the SPIE community. These included Professors Liviu Librescu and Kevin Granata.SPIE sends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy. As several were from the Engineering Department, they had interacted with many people in the SPIE community. These included Professors Liviu Librescu and Kevin Granata.

Librescu, a Holocaust survivor, taught at Virginia Tech for 20 years and had an international reputation for his work in aeronautical engineering. He served on the program committee of the SPIE conference "Modeling, Signal Processing and Control for Smart Structures 2007." Ishwar Puri, head of the engineering science and mechanics department, said Granata was one of the top five biomechanics researchers in the country working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy.

SPIE seeks nominations for Board of Director

9 March 2007

The SPIE nominating committee is accepting recommendations for members to be considered for the SPIE board of directors' 2008 election slate. To make a recommendation, or for more information about the SPIE board of directors, e-mail governance@spie.org. Please include a paragraph stating why the person is qualified to serve.

SPIE sponsors best poster awards at annual NSBP/NSHP meeting

9 March 2007

Peter Delfyett (Univ. of Central Florida, CREOL) and Anthony Johnson (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) served as Best Poster Presentation judges on behalf of OSA and SPIE at the Joint Meeting of the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists, February 21-25, 2007 in Boston. The following awards were presented at the Saturday evening banquet:

Johnson commented that the high quality of the posters made the judges' job a difficult one. "We want to thank OSA and SPIE for sponsoring these wonderful awards and recognition for these outstanding students," he said. "It is worth every penny to see the faces of the students as they walk up to the podium to accept their prizes for best poster."

In memoriam: Roger Lessard

27 April 2007

Roger A. Lessard died on February 26 after a battle with cancer.

Lessard was interim Editor of the SPIE Optical Engineering journal in 2000. Lessard served a one-year term while Editor Donald C. O'Shea served as SPIE President that year. He served as a member of the Editorial Board of Optical Engineering for several years, with his areas of expertise in photophysics, spectroscopy, and optical data storage. He was also a member of the SPIE Board of Directors from 1998 through 2000.

Roger A. Lessard obtained a bachelor's degree in science from the Université of Moncton, NB and in physics from Université Laval. In 1973, he graduated with a D.Sc. in physics and optics from Université Laval where he spent most of his career as a researcher and professor.

Dr. Lessard was Director of the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Optics at Université Laval. A tireless builder, he founded in 1989 the Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers. He is also co-founder of Holospectra (which became Lasiris and now StockerYale) and Laser InSpeck (now InSpeck). He sat on the Board of Directors of Gentec Electro-Optics and the Société du Centre des Congrès de Québec. He was a member of the scientific committee of Molex, a company located in Chicago and acted as a consultant to numerous start-up and established businesses in the province of Quebec and in the rest of Canada. He was an active member of scientific organizations such as SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Optical Society of America (OSA). He left his mark for his commitment to the Canadian Association of Physicists and as the founder of the annual Photonics North Conference. Recognized for the excellence of his research and training, he was an invited professor at the Imperial College of Sciences and Technology in London, Tianjin University in China, the Institute of Sciences in India and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Dr. Lessard was a fellow of SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering, of the Optical Society of India and of the Optical Society of America. He was a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was named Ambassador of the Year for Quebec City in 1996 having organized several international scientific conferences. In 1998, the Quebec Tourism Board also named him Ambassador of the Year. He received an honourary doctoral degree from the Université Blaise-Pascal in France for his contributions to holography and to the development of optical materials. The Quebec Association for Industrial Research gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field of optics in the greater Quebec region. In May 2002, he was named Knights of the National Order of Quebec for his dedication to the development of optics in Quebec and internationally.



In memoriam: Arthur Cox

Boriskina Awarded 2007 ICO-ICTP Prize
23 February 2007

Svetlana V. Boriskina was awarded the 2007 ICO-ICTP Prize at the recent Winter College on Fibre Optics, Fibre Lasers and Sensors this February in Trieste, Italy.

Boriskina was honored for "her original work in the development of numerical modeling techniques for optoelectronic devices, micro-optical resonators, dielectric lenses, and waveguides, and for her active commitment aimed at the diffusion of research in optics in Ukraine."

Boriskina is a senior research scientist at V. Karazin Kharkov National University (KNU), Kharkov, Ukraine. Her current research interests include optical waveguide and microcavity modeling, nanophotonics, and plasmonics. She is a member of both SPIE and the Optical Society of America (OSA), and a senior member of IEEE.

At the Winter College, Boriskina gave a talk describing her current work on the development of a rigorous analytical framework and efficient software tools for the spectral design and modeling of photonic and plasmonic micro- and nanostructures.

She also discussed the optics educational and public outreach activities that she and her students organize in Kharkov, Ukraine. This includes a Career Development Workshop for young researchers in optics, which was held in Kharkov in June 2006 with support from SPIE, OSA, and ICTP and brought together several IEEE, OSA, and SPIE student chapters from Ukraine, the United States, and Australia. Among many other activities, Boriskina has also developed a new lecture course titled "Electromagnetic Theory on Micro- and Nano-Scale" sponsored by a 2006 SPIE Educational Grant.

The Winter College on Fibre Optics, Fibre Lasers and Sensors was held 12-23 February in Trieste, Italy. The annual Winter College is organized by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in collaboration with the International Commission for Optics, OSA, SPIE, the European Optical Society, and the International Society on Optics Within Life Sciences.

SPIE announces 2007 award winners
12 February 2007

Since 1959, SPIE has honored outstanding achievements and excellence in the optics and photonics community through its prestigious Awards Program. The Awards Committee is pleased to announce the 2007 SPIE award recipients:

A. E. Conrady Award
The A. E. Conrady Award is presented annually in recognition of exceptional contributions in design, construction, and testing of optical systems and instrumentation, without which the technology would not have progressed to its present state.

Ellis Betensky is the 2007 recipient of the A. E. Conrady Award in recognition of his significant contributions to expanding the state of the art in zoom lens design. He is the founder of Opcon, Crossmatch Technologies, and Light Capture, Inc.

Educator Award
The SPIE Educator Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to optics education by an SPIE instructor or an educator in the field.

Valery Tuchin is the 2007 recipient of the Educator Award in recognition of his unparalleled global contributions to education and dissemination of technical information in the field of biomedical optics and biophotonics, and his pioneering work for SPIE's biomedical optics educational programs. He is a Professor at the Research-Educational Institute of Optics and Biophotonics of Saratov State University in Saratov, Russia.

Dennis Gabor Award
The Dennis Gabor award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in diffractive wavefront technologies, especially those which further the development of holography and metrology applications.

Ichirou Yamaguchi is the 2007 recipient of the Dennis Gabor Award in recognition of his eminent contributions to the development of holography and speckle metrology through the pioneering work in the analysis of correlation properties of diffusely reflected light from laser-illuminated rough surfaces, and the inventions of a laser speckle strain gauge and phase-shifting digital holography. He is a Professor at Gunma University in Gunma, Japan.

George W. Goddard Award
The George W. Goddard Award is presented annually in recognition of exceptional achievement in optical or photonic instrumentation for aerospace applications, without which the technology would not have progressed to its present state.

Alan Title is the 2007 recipient of the George W. Goddard Award in recognition of his contributions and leadership as the principle investigator for NASA's TRACE mission and his design and operations of space optics instruments throughout his career, which has had a major impact on probing the hydrodynamics of the Sun's solar interior and mapping the Sun's surface magnetic field. He is a Senior Fellow at the Advanced Technology Center in Lockheed Martin Corporation, and a Co-Director of the Stanford-Lockheed Institute for Space Research at Stanford University.

G. G. Stokes Award
The G. G. Stokes is given annually for exceptional contribution to the field of optical polarization. The award can be presented for a specific achievement, development, or invention of significant importance to optical science and society, or may be given for lifetime achievement.

Russell Chipman is the 2007 recipient of the G. G. Stokes Award in recognition of his many contributions to the fundamental understanding of polarization, development of polarization mathematics, and advancement of the field of polarization engineering. He is a Professor at the College of Optical Sciences of the University of Arizona in Tucson.

SPIE Technology Achievement Award
The SPIE Technology Achievement award is awarded annually to recognize outstanding technical accomplishment in optics, electro-optics, photonic engineering, or imaging. The recipient(s) shall have contributed significantly to the advancement of one or more of these areas with specific demonstration(s) or application(s).

Ali Adibi is the 2007 recipient of the SPIE Technology Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the areas of volume holography and photonic crystals. He is a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Frits Zernike Award for Microlithography
The Frits Zernike Award is given for outstanding accomplishments in microlithographic technology, especially those furthering the development of semiconductor lithographic imaging solutions.

David M. Williamson is the 2007 recipient of the Frits Zernike Award for Microlithography in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of imaging optics for microlithography. He is with the Nikon Research Corporation of America in Tucson.

Gold Medal of the Society
The Gold Medal of the Society is the highest honor that the SPIE bestows. It is presented annually in recognition of outstanding engineering or scientific accomplishments in optics, electro-optics, or photographic technologies or applications, without which the technology would not have progressed to its present state.

Joseph W. Goodman is the 2007 recipient of the Gold Medal of the Society in recognition of his seminal contributions to the field of Fourier Optics, Optical Signal Processing, Optical Interconnects and Speckle, as well as his effective and stimulating teachings through three classical textbooks and his leadership roles in promoting optics research, technology transfer from academia to industry, and entrepreneurship. He is a William Ayer Professor Emeritus at Stanford University.

In memoriam: Ralph Zirkind
5 February 2007

Ralph Zirkind died on January 21 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Zirkind chaired the first SPIE Meeting in Electronic Imaging, and in 2002 received a Special Lifetime Achievement Award for Pioneering Work in Sensors from SPIE.

Zirkind received his B.S. in Physics at CCNY where his experimental studies were in molecular spectroscopy. He initiated his graduate studies at Brooklyn College and completed his M.S. in Physics at Illinois Institute of Technology where his thesis was, "The Fluorescent Spectra of Aromatic Hydrocarbons." This research gave him the idea in 1968 to propose the production of computer memory chips on the molecular level. He continued his graduate work at George Washington University and completed his work for the Ph.D. at the University of Maryland. His thesis was in quantum electrodynamics. He also earned a D.Sc. in Engineering from URI. His professional career in optics began during WWII where he served as senior civilian in the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance Office in Chicago. The major effort related to optical fire control systems including the telescopic subsystem of the Norden bombsight. He proposed the fabrication of reticules using calcite embedded in polarizers. He was transferred to Research Division, Bureau of Aeronautics in 1945. His initial position was as physicist and then Head, Nuclear Physics Branch, with collateral duty as Bureau Chief Physicist.

In 1960, the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency requested his services to generate the optical test plan for the nation's reentry program. During 1965 and 1966, he served as a special assistant to the Director, ARPA, primarily coordinating the agency's optical programs while developing an advanced optics program to exploit holography and to create and manage a national optics program. Managing the national optics program included supporting the initial two years of the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona. Subsequently, he was appointed Chief Scientist/Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Office of Defense Research (now the Tactical Technology Office).

During his career with the Department of Defense he developed and managed an extensive electro optics countermeasures program with emphasis on laser countermeasures, initiated focal plane array development (InSb), and designed and developed lightweight electro-optical hardware for small Uninhabited Airborne Vehicles, e.g. FLIR Systems and Laser Target Designators. He also developed an airborne extreme range imager with line-by-line calibration and correction.

In education he served as a physics instructor at the University of Maryland and George Washington University and a Professor, PIB (1964-1970) and lecturer at the University of Michigan, Georgetown University, and Haifa Institute of Technology. He served on various government committees and the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. For these services, he received numerous commendations and awards from the United States Navy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the AIAA, the National Research Council, and received the Outstanding Educators of America medal.

ACCORD will bring together universities and companies in Europe
1 February 2007

A new European project named ACCORD offers an opportunity for companies to outsource research to universities.

In essence, ACCORD will buy from a company pre-commercial optoelectronic components on which the company would like additional research performed at a university in Europe. ACCORD will identify the most appropriate university and establish a working relationship between company and university.

First call to companies wishing to offer pre-competitive components to ACCORD opened on 15 January 2007 and closes on 15 February 2007.

The first call to universities wishing to conduct R&D on offered components opens on 25 February 2007 and closes on 15 March 2007.

ACCORD will provide new R&D capabilities for industry, particularly SMEs that may not have the means to maintain in-house research, development and innovation programmes. It will also assist universities to orient their photonics research toward new developments that correspond to new technological opportunities in a rapidly changing commercial market. Moreover, by involving possible end-users in the programme, the supplying company will get access to potential new markets outside its normal field of operation.

Details of the project can be found http://www.ist-accord.org. Companies or universities interested in the project are asked to register on the website and follow the process to submit your details.

Joint funding resolution for FY 2007 filed
30 January 2007

Dave Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, filed a $463.5 billion measure to complete work on last year's appropriations bills which he co-wrote with Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The House is expected to consider the measure on Wednesday, 31 January.

Last year, the leadership was unable to complete work on 9 of the 11 annual appropriations bills. Under the measure filed yesterday, most programs will continue to be funded at 2006 levels adjusted for increased pay costs but earmarks have been eliminated. Limited adjustments were made to meet critical needs including some increases for funding scientific research. Significant new investment over 2006 in scientific research includes:

• National Institutes of Health: $28.9 billion, an increase of $619.5 million to reverse a projected decline in new NIH research project awards and support an additional 500 research project grants, 1,500 first time investigators, and expand funding for high risk and high impact research.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology Innovation Programs: $50 million in new funding for physical science research and lab support for nanotechnology and neutron research.
• National Science Foundation. $4.7 billion, an increase of $335 million in the National Science Foundation's research account to fund Innovation Programs. This increase is a down-payment towards enhancing U.S. global competitiveness by investing in basic science research.
• Department of Energy, Office of Science: $3.8 billion, an increase of $200 million to support research including new energy technologies such as improved conversion of cellulosic biomass to biofuels.
• Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources: $1.5 billion, an increase of $300 million to accelerate research and development activities for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Related story from Science Magazine

Additional information can be found at http://appropriations.house.gov/News/pr_070129.shtml.

In memoriam: James M. Palmer
8 January 2007

James M. Palmer, research professor emeritus at the University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences, died last week after a battle with cancer.

A member of SPIE for 30 years, Palmer was instrumental in bringing the study of radiometry into the mainstream of optics education. A leader in the Undergraduate Optics program at the College of Optical Sciences, Palmer was widely regarded for his work in radiometry and calibration, with research results in the area of sensor system calibration significantly advancing the state of the art in that field.

His research reflects a broad base of knowledge and expertise, ranging from self-calibration and quantum-efficient detectors to radiometric properties of the Moon. In addition to presenting and publishing many technical papers, Palmer was known and admired throughout the optics community for his popular SPIE short courses that were enthusiastically received by students, colleagues, and optics professionals around the country.

He was named a Fellow of SPIE in 2003 for outstanding achievement in radiometry and education. In 2006 he received the SPIE Educator Award "for his substantial and sustained contributions to education in the critical area of radiometry." In the 1990s, he also received the Tau Beta Pi teacher of the Year Award and the University of Arizona Non-Traditional Student Teaching Award.

Jim especially loved music. He never forgot playing trumpet with Herbie Hancock in college. He took great pleasure in singing with choral groups, and with them he traveled to perform in 15 countries in many venues including Carnegie Hall and before the Pope in the Sistine Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, he wished that donations be made to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona or to the Community Food Bank.

Tucson.com obituary and guest book

Jefferson Science Fellows deadline approaching
8 January 2007

The deadline has been extended to January 31 for the 2007 Jefferson Science Fellows (JSF) program at the U.S. Department of State.

Tenured academic scientists and engineers from U.S. institutions of higher learning are eligible for selection to be Jefferson Science Fellows. Each Fellow will spend one year at the U.S. Department of State for an on-site assignment in Washington, D.C. that may also involve extended stays at U.S. foreign embassies and/or missions. All JSF assignments will be designed in consultation with regional and/or functional bureaus within the U.S. Department of State. JSF assignments will involve providing up-to-date expertise in the rapidly advancing STE arenas that routinely impact the policy decisions encountered by the U.S. Department of State.

Eligible nominees and applicants will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Ability to articulate science and technology issues to the non-specialist/general public.
• Ability to rapidly and accurately understand scientific advancements outside their discipline area and to effectively integrate this knowledge into U.S. Department of State policy discussions.
• Open-mindedness and receptive attitudes toward public policy discussions at the U.S. Department of State.
• Stature, recognition and experience in the national and international scientific or engineering community.

For more information and application instructions, visit the JSF website.

H. Frederick Dylla to head American Institute of Physics
8 January 2007

H. Frederick Dylla has been selected to be the next Executive Director and CEO of the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Dylla has been with the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in Newport News, VA since 1990. During this time, he has concurrently held an Adjunct Professorship in Physics and Applied Science at the College of William and Mary. The author of over 190 publications, he received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Holding a career-long interest in science education, Dylla helped to found the K-12 science education programs at Jefferson Lab. He founded similar programs at Princeton University's Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he held various research and management positions from 1975 to 1990. While at Princeton, he helped develop technology for nuclear fusion reactors, particle accelerators, and materials processing. At Jefferson Lab, Dylla served as the Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for the Free-Electron Laser (FEL) program funded by the Office of Naval Research.

Full press release from AIP