May 6, 1997

FPN97-13 Fusion Program Notes

Rosenbluth National Medal of Science Recipient

Long-time, distinguished fusion researcher Marshall Rosenbluth has been named to receive the National Medal of Science. The gold medal award, established by Congress in 1959, is the nation's highest honor for science. Rosenbluth, one of nine recipients this year, will receive the medal from President Clinton in a White House ceremony later this year. Rosenbluth has been a Professor of Physics at the University of California at San Diego since 1987. Also receiving the award posthumously will be fusion pioneer and astrophysicist Martin Schwarzschild of Princeton University, who died last month.

The president chooses the recipients each year from a list of recommendations prepared by a committee of scientists chosen by the National Science Foundation. In announcing the awards, NSF director Neal Lane said the National Medal of Science symbolizes the importance of basic research that is often done anonymously, for few rewards beyond intellectual achievement, yet makes new technologies, medicines and products possible. Lane said, "It is important that the nation publicly repay its debt to these outstanding men and women, whose contributions to science have helped to advance human learning, fight disease and provide insight into the central questions of the nature of the universe and humanities place in it."

Editorializing on the award, the May 3 San Diego Union said, "Its ironic that at a time when federal fusion research cutbacks relegate our nation to second-class status in developing the energy source of the future, President Clinton bestows on UCSD's top fusion physicist the National Medal of Science. When in Washington to receive his award, Marshall Rosenbluth could suggest to the president that the energy source that could sustain our grandchildren's world should be a top U.S. scientific priority. San Diego is fortunate to have a brilliant mind like Rosenbluth at work on the international team designing the prototype for the world's first commercial fusion reactor. How much more fortunate we would be if our leaders understood the importance of his work."

For more information, contact: Stephen O. Dean