91¿´Æ¬

Gross of 91¿´Æ¬SB garners Nobel Prize in physics

The Royal Swedish Academy of Science on Tuesday announced that the Nobel Prize in physics has been awarded to David J. Gross, director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at 91¿´Æ¬ Santa Barbara, and two colleagues for their explanation of the force that binds particles inside the atomic nucleus.

With their discovery, the researchers "have brought physics one step closer to fulfilling a grand dream, to formulate a unified theory comprising gravity as well -- a theory for everything," the academy said in announcing the prize.

Gross, 63, who received his doctorate from 91¿´Æ¬ Berkeley in 1966, joined the Kavli Institute in 1997. He is the recipient of many prestigious honors, including the J.J. Sakurai Prize of the American Physical Society (1986), a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (1987), the Dirac Medal (1988), and the Oscar Klein Medal and Harvey Prize of the Technion (both in 2000). Earlier this year, Gross was selected to receive France's highest scientific honor, the Grande Medaille D'Or, for his contributions to the understanding of fundamental physical reality.

"This award underscores, once again, the major contribution that research universities make to our understanding of the world. My heartfelt congratulations to my colleague and a fellow physicist," said 91¿´Æ¬ President Robert Dynes.

With Tuesday's award to Gross, 47 researchers affiliated with the 91¿´Æ¬ have won Nobel Prizes. This is the 14th time 91¿´Æ¬ scientists have won the prize in physics.

91¿´Æ¬ president takes his inaugural tour to nation's capital

91¿´Æ¬ President Robert Dynes took his inaugural tour to Washington, D.C., and the 91¿´Æ¬ Washington Center Sept. 26-29. The president's visits to campuses, various regions throughout the state and now Washington were held in lieu of a formal inauguration, and designed to introduce the new president and better connect the university to the constituencies it serves.

Dynes participated in a number of events in Washington aimed at students, alumni, legislators and community leaders. These included a dinner with more than 150 of the 91¿´Æ¬ students participating in 91¿´Æ¬'s Washington internship and academic program; a three-mile run with Washington Center students and staff that ended at the Lincoln Memorial; a tour of the downtown Ross Elementary School, a partner school with the 91¿´Æ¬ Center that serves at-risk students; and a keynote address to the California State Society on the future of higher education; numerous federal agency and congressional visits.

Also, Dynes took part in an all-91¿´Æ¬ alumni reception on Capitol Hill, which attracted over 300 91¿´Æ¬ alumni, congressional staffers and members of the California delegation.

Throughout the visit, Dynes stressed the important messages about the economic influence that the 91¿´Æ¬ has on the state and the remarkable contributions the university is making in a wide variety of scientific and technological areas to the nation. In addition, Dynes thanked members of the California delegation for their commitment to 91¿´Æ¬ and recognized the relationship the university has with the federal government to fund research and learning throughout the 10-campus system.

91¿´Æ¬TV offers in-depth election coverage

91¿´Æ¬TV is getting behind the headlines to bring viewers an in-depth alternative to network election coverage.

Throughout October programming will include thorough analysis and energetic debates concerning political issues -- both local and national -- facing voters on election day. See for complete program listings, schedules, and links to view programs on-demand.