Message from the Chair

This semester, we have made another big step towards a return to normal academic life. Faculty and students enjoy working together, and it’s wonderful to fully operate with inperson lectures and events again.

Astronomers and astrophysicists in the U’s Department of Physics & Astronomy have been driving discoveries in the field for years. The innovative research from the department is making an impact in all areas that the national astro-physics community has determined as priorities. These priorities have been outlined in a once-in-a-decade report that guides the direction of astro-research for years to come. The Decadal Survey was commissioned by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to identify goals and challenges for the exploration of the cosmos. Over the past several decades, our department faculty has pushed forward in an increasing number of research areas in astronomy, astrophysics and particle physics. Now these separate initiatives are coming together, in focus, and aligned with the decadal survey’s top priorities.

Construction has begun on the University of Utah’s new Applied Science Building Project. The project will restore and renovate the historic William Stewart building and construct an addition to the building on the west side, adjacent to University Street. This important project will provide new and updated space to serve the University of Utah’s educational and research mission, serving as the new home for the Department of Physics & Astronomy as well as the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. The building is expected to be completed in August 2024. The move of the Department of Physics & Astronomy is planned to take place in different phases, starting in December 2023 and ending in August 2024, following the successive completion of different building sections.

Our faculty continues to receive many prestigious awards. Both Ramón Barthelemy and I were elected fellows of the American Physical Society and we are both excited about this honor. There have been many more prestigious awards and recognitions in our department, though, as described on the following pages.

Every fall we announce our year-end campaign, and we are grateful for our alumni and friends of the department who support our efforts. This year, we are asking for donations to student scholarships. For more information, please see the article on page 28.

Sincerely,

Christoph Boehme Professor and Chair Department of Physics & Astronomy