Murray Holland (right) after winning a Marinus Smith Award.
JILA's greatest achievement is training the next generation of scientists and researchers. Recently JILA Fellow Murray Holland was recognized for his role in shaping that future generation with a Marinus Smith Award.
In addition to his research at JILA on quantum gases and optomechanics, Holland teaches undergraduate physics classes at CU from introductory physics to the principles of electricity and magnetism. Each spring CU students and their families nominate faculty and staff who have inspired, mentored, and supported them. This year more than 80 nominations were made, and Holland was one of 16 CU staff and faculty who received an award on April 18.
“It is remarkable to be able to share the incredible stories from students and their families on how current faculty, staff and administrators positively influence the lives of our students during their time at CU Boulder. We are so proud and honored to host these annual awards and recognize the outstanding contributions of our campus community members,” Amber Cardamone, director of New Student & Family Programs, said in a press release.
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.