Physicist to receive Sigma Xi's top honor

Physicist Deborah S. Jin, a Fellow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will receive Sigma Xi's 2009 William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement. The Procter Prize, the society's highest honor, has been presented annually since 1950 to an outstanding scientist or engineer who is known for effective communication of complex ideas. Sigma Xi notes that “Jin's technical innovations in the field of ultra cold Fermionic (atomic) gases have led to discoveries that define this new area of physics research. Her research has been described as the crucial first step in developing superconductors that work at room temperature, which could lead to faster computers and other advances. Jin is one of only a handful of women physicists elected to the National Academy of Sciences.” For more information, visit www.sigmaxi.org.