Join the Penn State Department of Physics to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Erwin Müller’s first “seeing” of the atom, the 10th anniversary of the Penn State LIGO team’s discovery of gravitational waves, and Jainendra Jain’s pioneering Wolf Prize recognition — the first at Penn State!
Mauricio Terrones (George A. and Margaret M. Downsbrough Head of the Department of Physics, Evan Pugh University Professor, professor of chemistry and of materials science and engineering) and Jainendra Jain (Evan Pugh University Professor, Erwin W. Müller Professor of Physics and holder of the Eberly Family Chair) will discuss the impact of these historic accomplishments, what pioneering research is on the horizon, and the importance of supporting basic research work.
At the event, Terrones will officially unveil the field ion microscope that was used by Müller to first “see” the atom, with a special acknowledgement of John Panitz, a graduate student who studied under Müller. In 2024, Panitz donated the original equipment from Müller’s laboratory back to the University.
Presented by the Penn State Eberly College of Science, the Science Matters: Spotlight Sessions series provides a unique opportunity for the community to engage directly with the brilliant minds working on the front lines of discovery to create positive, real-world impact.