Ehrlich To Be Honored at Celebration of Scholarship
By Assad Khan
Robert Ehrlich, professor of physics, will be given the Scholarly Award at
the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) sixth annual Celebration of Scholarship
on Thursday, March 21, 2002. Created in 1997, the Celebration of Scholarship recognizes
outstanding CAS faculty and unites them in celebrating their significant achievements.
The award for scholarship is given to a scholar whose recent work has played a
significant role in the advancement of his or her discipline. Previous winners
include Kevin Avruch (2001), Peter Brunette (2000), James Pfiffner (1999), Lois
Horton (1998), and Carol Mattusch (1997).
Ehrlich has been on the George Mason faculty since 1977. His research has
been in particle physics, including possible evidence for faster-than-light tachyons.
He also has worked on arms control issues and on physics education, developing
physics demonstrations and software for use in teaching.
Ehrlich has written 19 books, most recently Nine Crazy Ideas in Science:
A Few Might Even Be True. In 1995, his book The Cosmological Milkshake
was selected as an Outstanding Academic Book by Choice. Other accolades include
receiving the American Association of Physics Teachers award for excellence in
undergraduate teaching in 2001.
The Celebration of Scholarship will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
at 9 a.m. for a display of scholarly work by CAS faculty, staff, and students
in the Johnson Center's Sid and Reva Dewberry Hall (Multipurpose Room). Dean Daniele
Struppa will then join CAS students and faculty in the college for a breakfast
organized by the Events Management class taught by Heather Meyer, the New Century
College internship coordinator. At noon, a lunch honoring CAS staff will be held,
at which time the Mary Roper Award for Outstanding Staff Service will be presented.
At 3 p.m., "Happy Birthday, CAS" will feature a panel discussion
on CAS's history and a 30th birthday party. Ron Sorrell, who is writing the history
of the college, will be on hand for the panel.
Ehrlich will present "Faster-than-Light and Backward-in-Time: An Example
of a 'Crazy' Idea in Science" at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Center Cinema, which
will be preceded by a dinner hosted by Struppa. A cake and coffee reception follows
the lecture at 8:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the Celebration of Scholarship web site at www.cas.gmu.edu/celebration.
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