STONY BROOK, N.Y., October 22, 2003—A Stony Brook University mathematician today was named by President Bush as one of eight of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers to receive the 2002 National Medal of Science. The honor—one of the most prestigious in academia—is given for work that spawned many advances in scientific theory and developments leading to new technologies. The presidential medal is the nation’s highest honor for researchers who make major impacts in fields of science and engineering through career-long, ground-breaking achievements and on the individual disciplines for which the awards are given. The medal also recognizes contributions to innovation, industry, or education.
James Glimm, Ph.D., who is Chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics at Stony Brook, was honored for his work in shock wave theory and other cross-disciplinary fields in mathematical physics. Dr. Glimm is also a Professor and Director of the Center of Data Intensive Computing at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
“We are very proud of Dr. Glimm,” said Shirley Strum Kenny, President of Stony Brook University. “He has done extraordinary work in his field and has helped Stony Brook earn its reputation as a leading research university. "
“Science for me is the ultimate adventure of the human mind,” said Dr. Glimm, who will be honored with the other winners at a White House ceremony on November 6. “I am deeply honored by this recognition for my research spanning multiple areas of pure and applied mathematics, theoretical physics, and computation.”
Dr. Glimm has made outstanding contributions to shock wave theory, in which mathematical models are developed to explain natural phenomena that involve intense compression, such as air pressure in sonic booms, crust displacement in earthquakes, and density of material in volcanic eruptions and other explosions. He also has been a leading theorist in operator algebras, partial differential equations, mathematical physics, applied mathematics, and quantum statistical mechanics.
Dr. Glimm’s work in quantum field theory and statistical mechanics had a major impact on mathematical physics and probability and dramatically raised the scientific level of those fields. He also established a center of applied mathematics at Stony Brook, where, through a network of collaborations with research groups elsewhere, he has been a key player in present-day research in applied mathematics.
The other winners named by the President are biologists James E. Darnell of Rockefeller University in New York City, who discovered RNA processing, and Evelyn M. Witkin of Rutgers University, who confirmed the notion of DNA repair, for the Medal of Science; Leo L. Beranek of Cambridge, Mass., a retired leader in acoustical science, will receive the medal in engineering; and John I. Brauman of Stanford University will receive the award in chemistry. Three other honorees in the physical sciences include W. Jason Morgan of Princeton University, Richard L. Garwin at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York City, and Edward Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.
“The ideas and breakthroughs in fundamental science and engineering by these extraordinary pioneers have influenced thousands of other researchers,” National Science Foundation (NSF) director Rita Colwell said. “These amazing people represent overall close to four centuries worth of experience in research, teaching, and leadership inside their fields and extending across many other disciplines as well.”
"On behalf of the State University of New York community, I congratulate Professor Glimm for receiving the National Medal of Science," said SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King. "Professor Glimm's accomplishment adds luster to the reputation of the University and reflects the high quality of our superb faculty the high quality of the education we provide our students. I am very proud of Dr. Glimm for receiving this prestigious award."
The NSF, an independent federal agency that funds and supports fundamental scientific research at the nation’s universities, administers the National Medal of Science for the White House. Congress established the National Medal of Science in 1959. The 2002 awards bring to 409 the total number of science medals awarded since their inception.
NSF Program Contact: Susan Fannoney: (703) 292-8096, sfannone@nsf.gov
For more detailed vital information on the 2002 medal recipients, see:
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpanews/pr03121.htm
For more information on National Medals of Science, see:
http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/awards/nms/medal.htm
For information on National Medals of Technology, see:
http://www.ta.doc.gov/medal
