We are pleased to announce that Professor Marc Pinsonneault is one of the 2017 University Distinguished Scholars! Marc was surprised during our morning AstroCoffee on Wednesday, March 22 by a group of university leaders. The award recognizes six faculty each year who demonstrate scholarly activity, research or other creative works which represent exceptional achievements in their fields. Receipients of the award receive a $20,000 research grant and a $3,000 honorarium.

 

Marc was particularly honored for his substantial contributions to understanding the physics stars. His research focuses on theoretical models of stellar structure and evolution, particularly stellar rotation, helio- and astroseismology, and solar neutrinos. His work has shown that stellar rotation affects the lifetime and surface chemical abundances of stars, and his work on the "standard solar model" became the basis for defining the solar neutrino problem and the subsequent discovery of neutrino oscillations. Congratulations Marc!