Please join us in congratulating IDIES Associate Director Mark Robbins, who has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, “in recognition of his contribution to science and technology, scientific leadership and extraordinary achievements across disciplines.” Professor Robbins, who specializes in the physics of condensed matter—solids and liquids are the most familiar examples—was recognized for “using simulations to reveal the microscopic origins of macroscopic behavior” of matter. Examples include understanding where friction comes from, determining the contact and adhesion between solids, and explaining the strength of polymers. He will join JHU theoretical physicist and colleague Marc Kamionkowski, as well as the 396 new AAAS Fellows, in an induction ceremony during the 2018 AAAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, in February.
From the AAAS article:
“The tradition of AAAS Fellows dates to 1874 and comprises an illustrious group of scientists. Among them are astronomer Maria Mitchell, who discovered a comet that now carries her name and was elected Fellow in 1875; inventor Thomas Edison, whose creations included the incandescent light bulb and was elected Fellow in 1878; anthropologist Margaret Mead whose field research on culture and personality attracted much acclaim and was elected Fellow in 1934, and American biologist James Watson who, along with others, helped discover the structure of DNA and was elected Fellow in 1965.
Earlier this year, five of the 2017 Nobel laureates were AAAS Fellows, one Fellow each for the 2017 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine and the 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry; and three Fellows for the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics.”
