Pushing frontiers

PEOPLE & PLACES UPDATE

Young Fellow

Pushing frontiers The UK’s Royal

Eight US federal departments and agencies have

Society of

named 60 young researchers as recipients of the

Engineering has

2001 Presidential Early Career Awards. Research in

elected its youngest

many fields including nanoscale devices, DNA

ever Fellow. Polina

computing, smart materials, polymers, and tissue

Bayvel, aged 36, who

engineering has been rewarded. “These young

leads the optical

scientific leaders are pushing frontiers,

networks research

communicating their unique knowledge to

group at University

students, and setting standards we all should

College London is

emulate,” comments Rita Colwell, director of the

one of 47 new

National Science Foundation (NSF).

Fellows elected to the Academy.

The following researchers were among those who

Among some of the giants of British industry and

received the awards from President George W.

academia also elected to the Society, many

Bush. Scott R. Manalis of Massachusetts Institute

materials scientists are named. These include

of Technology (MIT) is working to develop

Peter J. Goodhew of the University of Liverpool,

nanofabrication technologies for molecular

Richard H. Friend and Mark E. Welland of the

devices, MEMS, and biomolecule detection. MIT-

University of Cambridge, Richard M. de la Rue of

colleague Christine Ortiz is studying biological and

the University of Glasgow, and Robin Saxby of

biomimetic polymer systems. Reginald DesRoches

ARM Holdings plc, to list just some of those

at Georgia Institute of Technology is investigating

whose work has been acknowledged.

the use of shape memory alloy technology for civil infrastructures, with the aim of increasing

The magnificent eleven

resistance to earthquakes. Erik Winfree’s research

The 11 recipients of Federation Fellowships from

at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) on

the Commonwealth Government in Australia have been announced. The fellowships are designed to attract and retain successful scientists to lead world-class research teams in Australia. Yuri Kivshar, Catherine Stampfl, and Rodney Tucker are among those named.

DNA computing is shedding light on the formation of quasi-crystals and the controlled polymerization of biomolecules. Richard B. Gillespie at the University of Michigan is developing haptic, or touch exploration, devices that emulate the ability to feel texture and other properties of objects. Elizabeth A. Davis, also at

Kivshar’s research at the Australian National

the University of Michigan, is investigating the

University, Canberra, involves studies of photonic

link between teachers’ learning, their practice of

crystals, optical solitons, and nanoscale nonlinear

teaching, and their students’ learning.

switching devices for the future development of

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all-optical communication technologies.

JPL chief technologist appointed

Also in the field of optical networking, Tucker’s

The new chief technologist at NASA’s Jet

research at the University of Melbourne aims to

Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena,

produce innovations in optical communications,

California, is Erik Antonsson, of Caltech. The

photonics, and information networks.

appointment was made by JPL director Charles

Stampfl’s work involves the development of

Elachi on the advice of an interview committee

nitride-based materials for hard-coatings,

led by Richard Murray of Caltech.

spintronic and optoelectronic devices, and

Antonsson researches formal methods for

heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Although

engineering design and has been a professor at

presently at Northwestern University in the USA,

Caltech since 1984. “I am excited to have the

she is moving to the University of Sydney to

opportunity to join JPL, and to contribute to the

pursue her research.

development of new technologies,” he says.

October 2002

Inauguration Sir Harry Kroto, professor of chemistry at the University of Sussex, has been inaugurated as the new president of the UK Royal Society of Chemistry. The discovery of Buckminsterfullerene brought Kroto, along with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996. Kroto was knighted in the same year for his contributions to chemistry. He also takes an active interest in science broadcasting and education. Education challenge The new director of physics education at the UK Institute of Physics will spearhead initiatives to support and develop physics teaching at school and university levels. Peter Main, head of physics and astronomy at the University of Nottingham, will take up the post in October. “The major problem in physics education is, without doubt, the shortage of well-qualified physics teachers in schools,” says Main of the situation in the UK. “It will be a tough nut to crack.” Windy city The Paul Rappaport Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Award has been presented to Waverly Light and Power, the municipal utility for Waverly, Iowa. This new award from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been instigated to mark the laboratory’s 25th anniversary. Waverly installed the first utilityscale wind turbine in Iowa in 1993 and has since championed the cause of renewable energy in many forums around the country. “This may be a small utility, but it is one with a big supply of vision, innovation, and courage,” comments NREL director Richard Truly.