Recognition & Honors
Donna Stokes: Physics professor, Donna Stokes, received the one of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). It’s considered the highest honor in the nation for outstanding mentorship in STEM disciplines. With teachHouston, she mentors and supports the next generation of STEM educators. The award is managed by the National Science Foundation, and honorees are selected by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Related Article
Brandee Carlson: Carlson, professor of geomorphology, traveled to Greenland to study how sediment, water, and chemical fluctuations coming from melting glaciers to the coast will change as our climate continues to warm. Carlson’s team monitors the effect of sediment delivery on delta growth patterns through field observations and satellite imagery. Related Article
Julia Wellner: Wellner, professor of geology, was the lead U.S. investigator for the Thwaites Offshore Research project, or THOR, and her team determined that significant thinning and retreat of Thwaites began in the 1940s. The THOR team is looking at sediment, saying global sea levels could rise by more than two feet if Thwaites were to collapse. Related Article
Liangzi Deng and Paul Chu: The pair of NSM physicists have achieved another first as they study toward ambient-pressure high-temperature superconductivity. Using a technique they developed called the pressure-quench protocol (PQP), described in an October UH news release, Deng and Chu successfully stabilized BST’s high-pressure-induced superconducting states at ambient pressure – meaning no special high-pressure environments needed. Related Article