Slichter receives 2007 National Medal of Science

8/25/2008

Charles P. Slichter received the 2007 National Medal of Science from President George W. Bush on September 29, 2008, in a White House ceremony.

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Professor Charles P. Slichter is one of eight Americans to win the 2007 National Medal of Science. The award was announced by President George W. Bush on August 25, and presented in a White House ceremony on September 29.

Professor Slichter was recognized "for establishing nuclear magnetic resonance as a powerful tool to reveal the fundamental molecular properties of liquids and solids. His inspired teaching has led generations of physicists and chemists to develop a host of modern technologies in condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine."

The National Medal of Science, the country's highest honor for scientists, recognizes individuals for pioneering scientific research in a range of fields, including physical, biological, mathematical, social, behavioral, and engineering sciences.  National Medal of Science laureates have enhanced our understanding of the world and given rise to innovations and technologies that have changed our lives. The award, which was established by Congress in 1959, was presented by President Bush on Monday morning, September 29, in the East Room of the White House.

Internationally recognized for his contributions to condensed matter physics, Slichter is one of the world's top research scientists in the area of magnetic resonance and has been a leading innovator in applications of resonance techniques to elucidating the structure of matter. His deep physical insight and elegant experimental mastery have allowed him to make seminal contributions to an extraordinarily broad range of problems of great theoretical interest and technological importance in physics and chemistry.


Madeline Stover is a physics doctoral student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying atmospheric dynamics applied to forest conservation. She interns as a science writer for Illinois Physics, where she also co-hosts the podcast Emergence along with fellow physics graduate student Mari Cieszynski. When Stover is not doing research or communications, she enjoys hosting her local radio show, singing with her band, and cooking with friends.

Daniel Inafuku graduated from Illinois Physics with a PhD and now works as a science writer. At Illinois, he conducted scientific research in mathematical biology and mathematical physics. In addition to his research interests, Daniel is a science video media creator.

Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, Ph. D. is a science writer and an educator. She teaches college and high school physics and mathematics courses, and her writing has been published in popular science outlets such as WIREDScientific AmericanPhysics World, and New Scientist. She earned a Ph. D. in Physics from UIUC in 2019 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Jamie Hendrickson is a writer and content creator in higher education communications. They earned their M.A. in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2021. In addition to their communications work, they are a published area studies scholar and Russian-to-English translator.

Garrett R. Williams is an Illinois Physics Ph.D. Candidate and science writer. He has been recognized as the winner of the 2020 APS History of Physics Essay Competition and as a finalist in the 2021 AAAS Science and Human Rights Essay Competition. He was also an invited author in the 2021 #BlackinPhysics Week series published by Physics Today and Physics World

 

Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, Ph. D. is a science writer and an educator. She teaches college and high school physics and mathematics courses, and her writing has been published in popular science outlets such as WIREDScientific AmericanPhysics World, and New Scientist. She earned a Ph. D. in Physics from UIUC in 2019 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.


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This story was published August 25, 2008.