Volume 2, Issue 8
Dean's Message
Mark Richards
Dean, Physical Sciences
February 2005
Dear Friends,
Your comments and questions regarding ScienceMatters@Berkeley keep coming in and we thank you for your interest. One suggestion I have received a number of times—"Why aren't the social sciences represented"?—has prompted us to action. From time to time beginning with the March issue, we will feature faculty and research topics whose work bridges the social sciences and the natural sciences. This new direction continues our underlying theme of scientific achievements emerging across traditional disciplinary lines.
While ScienceMatters@Berkeley keeps you well informed about groundbreaking physical and biological sciences research happening here at Berkeley, we hope that in addition to your "virtual" visits via the web, you will also visit us in person on campus. For a sampling of upcoming spring events open to the public, please visit http://ls.berkeley.edu/events/.
In a recent annual survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, UC Berkeley was the top-ranked university in preparing students who go on to earn their doctorates in the United States. Berkeley awarded 2,175 undergraduate degrees to students who received PhD's between 1999 and 2003. A total of 203,929 U.S. doctorates were awarded during that time period. According to the report, Berkeley was also the top-ranked school in awarding doctorates in 2003–767 doctorates, or two percent of all U.S. doctorates awarded. (Berkeley also leads in both baccalaureate degrees leading to doctorates and in doctorates granted to women and minority students.)
In January, The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) honored two of Berkeley's distinguished faculty for their undergraduate and public teaching. Professor emeritus of physics Eugene Commins received the Oersted Medal for his contributions to the advancement of physics teaching. The Richtmyer Award was presented to Carlos Bustamante, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Berkeley professor of physics, chemistry, and molecular and cell biology, for conveying physics to public audiences. I hasten to add that both Commins and Bustamante are members of the National Academy of Sciences, and thus exemplify the Berkeley ideal of excellence in teaching, research, and service.
Many of us here at Berkeley were saddened to learn of the death in December of renowned mathematician and professor emeritus of mathematics Shiing-Shen Chern. Chern was a towering figure in 20th century mathematics and one who maintained remarkable productivity throughout his career. We dedicate this month's Scientific Legacy to his life and work.
I hope you enjoy this month's journey of scientific explorations. As always, your comments, insights, and ideas are appreciated.
Mark Richards
Professor of Earth and Planetary Science
Dean, Division of Physical Sciences
College of Letters and Science
UC Berkeley
Mark_Richards@ls.berkeley.edu