Department of Physics Update

2004 Nobel Laureate Prof. Frank Wilczek and A. Neil Pappalardo (EE '64) at the Department's annual Endicott House reception, September 2005. [photo credit: C. Kontoes]

The MIT Department of Physics is a national treasure. We have great faculty, who have won five Nobel Prizes since 1990, and more Oersted Medals (the physics education prize of the American Association of Physics Teachers) than any other department. We have great students, who have broken new ground in physics — four alumni have won Nobel Prizes since 1997 — and in technology — two alumni, Robert Noyce and Jay Last, founded Fairchild Semiconductor, which gave birth to Silicon Valley.

The generous philanthropic support of our alumni and friends have made it possible for the Department to renovate a portion of the original MIT buildings for the Green Center for Physics and to dramatically increase the number of fellowships we can provide for graduate students. I hope you will take the time to read about the recently created society for those who have provided fellowships, The Patrons of Physics Fellows, and read the profile of Mort Goulder (PH '42), who has become one of the first Patrons.

Now is a very exciting time for Physics at MIT, and I hope you will take advantage of the opportunities to get involved in our enterprise. Our friends and alumni play a vital role in the continued greatness of the Department, and I am deeply grateful for their support.
Sincerely,



Marc A. Kastner
Donner Professor of Science, and
Head, Department of Physics