Brookhaven Physicist Doon Gibbs Named as AAAS Fellow

Upton, NY — Doon Gibbs, Deputy Chair of the Physics Department at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, has been awarded the distinction of Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The award will be presented at the 2002 AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston on February 16.

The honor of being named a Fellow recognizes individual AAAS members for their “efforts toward advancing science or fostering applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished.” This year, 288 members were elevated to the rank of Fellow.

Gibbs was cited for his “distinguished contributions to condensed matter physics using sophisticated and elegant x-ray scattering techniques.” He conducts most of his research at Brookhaven Lab’s National Synchrotron Light Source, a source of high-intensity x-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared beams that allow scientists to probe the chemical and physical properties of proteins, materials, and other samples.

Gibbs’ primary research focus is the study of magnetic materials and surfaces. He was recently named Director of a new Materials Center at Brookhaven Lab, which will consolidate and advance the Lab’s materials research efforts, particularly in the areas of nanoscience, condensed matter, and materials synthesis.

“I am very pleased and honored to have been elected a Fellow of the AAAS,” Gibbs said. “My studies of these interesting and potentially important materials would not have been possible without the generous support of both Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Department of Energy,” he said.

Founded in 1848, AAAS represents the world’s largest federation of scientists and works to advance science for human well-being through its projects, programs, and publications. With more than 138,000 members and 275 affiliated societies, AAAS conducts many programs in the areas of science policy, science education, and international scientific cooperation. AAAS publishes the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Science. The tradition of naming AAAS Fellows began in 1874.

Doon Gibbs earned his B.S. in physics in 1977 from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. in physics in 1982 from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He joined Brookhaven Lab in 1983 as an assistant physicist in the Physics Department. He was promoted to Associate Physicist in 1984, Physicist in 1986, and to Senior Physicist in 2000. He was named Associate Chair of the Physics Department in January 2000 and Deputy Physics Chair in June 2001. He also served as Acting Physics Chair from July until October 2001.

Note to local editors: Doon Gibbs lives in Poquott, New York.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies. Brookhaven also builds and operates major facilities available to university, industrial, and government scientists. The Laboratory is managed by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited liability company founded by Stony Brook University and Battelle, a nonprofit applied science and technology organization.