ScienceNews: Detection of Gravitational Waves was Top Story of 2016

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LIGO Wins 2016 Breakthrough of the Year Award from Physics World

On December 12, 2016, Physics World recognized LIGO scientists for their direct detection of gravitational waves from coalescing black holes.

LIGO Scientists Recognized as "Chroniclers" in Foreign Policy Magazine's 2016 Global Thinkers

For the first detection of gravitational waves, the scientists of LIGO were recognized by Foreign Policy Magazine as "chroniclers" and Global Thinkers.

Dr. Laura Sampson Awarded 2016 L'Oreal Women in Science Fellowship

On September 26, 2016, Dr.  Laura Sampson of Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) was awarded a L'Oreal Women in Science Fellowship for her contributions to LIGO and to supporting women and girls in STEM.  

Professor Sheila Rowan Wins 2016 WIRED Audi Innovation Award

Professor Sheila Rowan of University of Glasgow was awarded a WIRED Audi Innovation award for her contributions to the LIGO mirror suspension systems and the detection of gravitational waves.

 

Professor James Hough Wins Royal Medal

On Friday, December 9 2016, Professor James Hough of University of Glasgow was awarded a Royal Medal for his contributions to gravitational wave science.  The award was presented by HRH Princess Anne. Learn more here.

2016 AAAS Fellows

Three LIGO scientists were elected as 2016 AAAS Fellows:

Albert Lazzarini, Caltech

Jay Marx, Caltech (emeritus)

Carmen Menoni, Colorado State University

2016 American Physical Society Fellows

Four LIGO scientists elected as 2016 APS Fellows:

Frolov, Valery V. [2016]
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Livingston Observatory
Citation: For his contributions to gravitational-wave physics, in particular the commissioning of the advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory detector that observed GW140914.
Nominated by: Division of Gravitational Physics 

Landry, Michael [2016]
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Hanford Observatory
Citation: For contributions to the first direct detection of gravitational waves, including leadership of early efforts in detector calibration and data analysis, leadership of the installation of the advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory at Hanford and leadership of its first observing run.
Nominated by: Division of Gravitational Physics 

Sperhake, Ulrich [2016]
CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
Citation: For important contributions to numerical studies of binary black hole systems, including leading work on recoil velocities following astrophysical mergers, and pioneering efforts exploring the high-speed collision problem of relevance to super-Planck scale physics.
Nominated by: Division of Gravitational Physics 

Vallisneri, Michele [2016]
California Institute of Technology
Citation: For significant contributions to the statistical theory and computational practice of gravitational-wave detection and parameter estimation, and for cross-fertilizing technical approaches among the ground-based, space-based, and pulsar-timing detection programs.
Nominated by: Division of Gravitational Physics 

LIGO Founders and 1012 LIGO Scientists win Special Breakthrough Prize

On May 2, 2016, LIGO scientists were awarded the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for contributions to the detection of gravitational waves. $2 million of the $3-million award will be shared among 1012 LIGO scientists, and the remaining $1 million will be split among the primary founders of LIGO, Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne, and Ronald Drever.  

Hello World!

This is the blog which compiles a list of awards and recognitions given to the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration and its members.