LSU Boyd Professor Elected Vice President of American Physical Society
Gabriela González, Boyd Professor of Physics, Louisiana State University Department of Physics & Astronomy, has been elected vice-president of the American Physical Society.
“Dr. González's election as vice president of the American Physical Society (APS) is a remarkable achievement that reflects her leadership to advancing the field of physics,” said Cynthia Peterson, Dean, LSU College of Science. “Her passion and dedication make her the perfect fit for this important role, and we are excited to see the impact of her leadership.”
In her new role for APS, González aims to build a stronger, more engaged APS community. González’s vice presidential term will begin on January 1, 2025; she will be APS President-Elect in 2026 and APS President in 2027.
“The American Physical Society is a global organization, but it should also be seen as “our” organization” said González. “Our members should view APS not only as a premier source for scientific information—through meetings, journals, newsletters, and magazines—but also as one of the best ways to engage with each other, learn from each other, and shape the future of physics.”
“As a cohesive community, we will be able to thoughtfully address and influence issues that affect us—whether it’s fostering international collaborations amidst regional conflicts or addressing science budgets. And we must also support the new generation of physicists by implementing innovative teaching methods in schools, colleges, and graduate programs.”
González was elected an APS Fellow in 2007, and in the same year, received the APS Edward A. Bouchet Award. She was spokesperson of the international LIGO Scientific Collaboration, with more than 1,000 members, from 2011 to 2017 and participated in the announcement in 2016 of the first gravitational wave detected from the merger of black holes.
In 2016, she received the Jesse W. Beams Award from the Southeastern Section of American Physical Society. In 2017, González was elected as a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and received the US National Academy of Sciences Award for Scientific Discovery.
Founded 125 years ago, the American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.
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Contact:
Mimi LaValle
LSU Physics & Astronomy
225-439-5633
mlavall@lsu.edu
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