Opening Doors: Honoring Physics Professor Emerita Vera Kistiakowsky

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A forum honoring MIT Faculty Newsletter founder and Physics Professor Emerita Vera Kistiakowsky was held on January 11, 2013. A physicist, teacher, mother, daughter, and moral leader, in addition to her long-time work at MIT, Prof. Kistiakowsky established the Status of Women project in the American Physical Society, and was a founder of American Women in Science.

Co-sponsored by the Technology and Culture Forum, the MIT Department of Physics, and the Faculty Newsletter, those offering praise and warm anecdotes included, Prof. Edmund Bertschinger, Chair of the MIT Department of Physics, Vera’s daughter Prof. Karen Fischer (Brown University Geological Sciences), Prof. Lisa Steiner and Prof. Mary-Lou Pardue from the MIT Department of Biology, and Prof. of Biology and FNL Editorial Board Chair Jonathan King.

Vera spoke briefly, recalling both the early days of the Faculty Newsletter and other MIT experiences, as well as personal memories of her life-long joy of mountain climbing. Prof. Kistiakowsky was presented with both a framed poster memorializing the event, and a collage of photographs and other memorabilia assembled by her friends and family.

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