The OSA Foundation recently established the Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award in honor of Professor Feld’s fundamental contributions to laser science and applied physics. While the award is going to be featured at this year's BioMed meeting, it will not be given until 2013 to recognize an individual for innovative and influential contributions to the field of biophotonics.
Professor Feld, who passed away in 2010 after an eight-year struggle with multiple myeloma, was the director of the MIT George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory. His research spanned a large variety of topics, including atomic spectroscopy, laser-nuclear interactions, and radiative processes. He made the first observation of superradiance in 1973, demonstrated suppressed spontaneous emission and radiative level shifts in an open optical resonator in the 1980s, and developed a single atom laser in 1994.
All of those achievements are impressive, but I was especially intrugued by Professor Feld's ability to incorporate his passion for karate into his love for physics. Edmund Bertschinger, the head of MIT’s Department of Physics said, "Michael delighted in illustrating the physics of karate with classroom demonstrations like breaking a wooden board with a swift blow. And when Michael stopped advancing at the brown belt, he encouraged his sons to persist to obtain black belts, showing that the true master is the one who helps others to achieve their best.” Board breaking during lectures would certainly make force demonstrations more interesting, and I wonder if he ever used the "wax on, wax off" lesson with any of his advisees.
Nominations for the 2013 award are now being accepted, and for those who'd like to make a contribution to endow the award, visit the OSA Foundation to donate online.
Professor Feld, who passed away in 2010 after an eight-year struggle with multiple myeloma, was the director of the MIT George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory. His research spanned a large variety of topics, including atomic spectroscopy, laser-nuclear interactions, and radiative processes. He made the first observation of superradiance in 1973, demonstrated suppressed spontaneous emission and radiative level shifts in an open optical resonator in the 1980s, and developed a single atom laser in 1994.
All of those achievements are impressive, but I was especially intrugued by Professor Feld's ability to incorporate his passion for karate into his love for physics. Edmund Bertschinger, the head of MIT’s Department of Physics said, "Michael delighted in illustrating the physics of karate with classroom demonstrations like breaking a wooden board with a swift blow. And when Michael stopped advancing at the brown belt, he encouraged his sons to persist to obtain black belts, showing that the true master is the one who helps others to achieve their best.” Board breaking during lectures would certainly make force demonstrations more interesting, and I wonder if he ever used the "wax on, wax off" lesson with any of his advisees.
Nominations for the 2013 award are now being accepted, and for those who'd like to make a contribution to endow the award, visit the OSA Foundation to donate online.
No comments:
Post a Comment