Meet the Authors of Beyond Sputnik: U.S. Science Policy in the 21st Century
We are saddened to report that Dr. Homer Neal, co-author of Beyond Sputnik passed away on May 23, 2018 after falling serious ill in February. Dr Neal will be greatly missed, however, we know that his impact on science, science policy, and the many individuals he mentored and touched will live on. A write up on Dr. Neal and his many life accomplishments from which appeared in the American Physical Society News may be found at this link and below.
Homer A. Neal, the Samuel A. Goudsmit Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan, died on May 23 at age 75. He was a Fellow of APS and became the Society’s first African American President in 2016. In 2003, he was the recipient of the APS Edward A. Bouchet Award "for his significant contributions to experimental high energy physics, for his important role in formulating governmental science policy, for his service as a university administrator at several universities, and for his advocacy of diversity and educational opportunity at all levels."
“Homer was a very kind man who was passionate about physics,” said 2018 APS President Roger Falcone. “He was tireless in expanding participation and connecting scientists globally, and extremely thoughtful about any activity he undertook, including his leadership of the American Physical Society. It was an honor and pleasure to work with him.”
Neal received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Indiana University in 1961 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1966. From 1976 to 1981 he was Dean for Research and Graduate Development at Indiana University, and Provost at Stony Brook University from 1981 to 1986. From 1987 to 1993 he was Chair of the physics department at the University of Michigan.
His area of research was experimental particle physics. He was part of the D0 Collaboration at Fermilab that discovered the top quark in 1995. From 2000 to 2015 he was director of the University of Michigan team that collaborated at CERN on the ATLAS experiment, which participated in the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012.
“Homer Neal was a remarkable man,” said APS CEO Kate Kirby. “His influence was felt well beyond the physics community, which was his home. APS is extremely fortunate to have benefited from his wise and steadfast leadership, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him. I will miss him profoundly.”
In addition to his scientific research, Neal was widely involved in science policy and served on numerous advisory boards. He was a member of the board of directors of the Ford Motor Company and was a Director of the Lounsbery Foundation. Neal was a member of the Council for the Smithsonian Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C., and has served as a member of the U.S. National Research Council Board on Physics and Astronomy. Before becoming APS President in 2016, he served as a member of the APS Panel on Public Affairs. Neal authored a textbook on science policy (“Beyond Sputnik”) which is being used in courses at several institutions.
While on the U.S. National Science Board, he chaired the committee that produced the board's first comprehensive report on undergraduate science education. A result of that study is the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU), and the Research Experience for Teachers Program (RET) now flourishing today. He also served as Chair of the Physics Advisory Committee of the National Science Foundation. Neal offered testimony on numerous occasions to Congress, on matters ranging from the funding of national laboratories to the state of science education.
“I knew Homer for many years during his service to the community — first on the Board on Physics and Astronomy at the U.S. National Academies,” said APS Past President Laura Greene. “More recently we worked quite closely in the APS presidential line — he preceded me as Past President. Homer was continually brilliant and compassionate — always giving a great deal of consideration for every issue; he never failed to provide an astounding jewel of insight and understanding. His tireless and effective work to provide research experiences to undergraduates was always impressive. Homer was always an inspiration to me, and I will sorely miss him.”
Homer Neal spoke from personal experience about diversity and inclusion. In an interview with APS News, he recalled growing up in segregated Franklin, Kentucky in the 1950s. He and a friend who was white had developed an interest in amateur radio but because Neal was black, they were pressured by the town’s residents to break off the friendship. “We were both astounded, and agreed to stop our communications,” Neal said. “But it did teach me that basically when individuals are working on a scientific project together, the color of one’s skin doesn’t matter. It mattered to others, but it didn’t matter to us.”
Homer A. Neal, the Samuel A. Goudsmit Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan, died on May 23 at age 75. He was a Fellow of APS and became the Society’s first African American President in 2016. In 2003, he was the recipient of the APS Edward A. Bouchet Award "for his significant contributions to experimental high energy physics, for his important role in formulating governmental science policy, for his service as a university administrator at several universities, and for his advocacy of diversity and educational opportunity at all levels."
“Homer was a very kind man who was passionate about physics,” said 2018 APS President Roger Falcone. “He was tireless in expanding participation and connecting scientists globally, and extremely thoughtful about any activity he undertook, including his leadership of the American Physical Society. It was an honor and pleasure to work with him.”
Neal received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Indiana University in 1961 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1966. From 1976 to 1981 he was Dean for Research and Graduate Development at Indiana University, and Provost at Stony Brook University from 1981 to 1986. From 1987 to 1993 he was Chair of the physics department at the University of Michigan.
His area of research was experimental particle physics. He was part of the D0 Collaboration at Fermilab that discovered the top quark in 1995. From 2000 to 2015 he was director of the University of Michigan team that collaborated at CERN on the ATLAS experiment, which participated in the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012.
“Homer Neal was a remarkable man,” said APS CEO Kate Kirby. “His influence was felt well beyond the physics community, which was his home. APS is extremely fortunate to have benefited from his wise and steadfast leadership, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him. I will miss him profoundly.”
In addition to his scientific research, Neal was widely involved in science policy and served on numerous advisory boards. He was a member of the board of directors of the Ford Motor Company and was a Director of the Lounsbery Foundation. Neal was a member of the Council for the Smithsonian Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C., and has served as a member of the U.S. National Research Council Board on Physics and Astronomy. Before becoming APS President in 2016, he served as a member of the APS Panel on Public Affairs. Neal authored a textbook on science policy (“Beyond Sputnik”) which is being used in courses at several institutions.
While on the U.S. National Science Board, he chaired the committee that produced the board's first comprehensive report on undergraduate science education. A result of that study is the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU), and the Research Experience for Teachers Program (RET) now flourishing today. He also served as Chair of the Physics Advisory Committee of the National Science Foundation. Neal offered testimony on numerous occasions to Congress, on matters ranging from the funding of national laboratories to the state of science education.
“I knew Homer for many years during his service to the community — first on the Board on Physics and Astronomy at the U.S. National Academies,” said APS Past President Laura Greene. “More recently we worked quite closely in the APS presidential line — he preceded me as Past President. Homer was continually brilliant and compassionate — always giving a great deal of consideration for every issue; he never failed to provide an astounding jewel of insight and understanding. His tireless and effective work to provide research experiences to undergraduates was always impressive. Homer was always an inspiration to me, and I will sorely miss him.”
Homer Neal spoke from personal experience about diversity and inclusion. In an interview with APS News, he recalled growing up in segregated Franklin, Kentucky in the 1950s. He and a friend who was white had developed an interest in amateur radio but because Neal was black, they were pressured by the town’s residents to break off the friendship. “We were both astounded, and agreed to stop our communications,” Neal said. “But it did teach me that basically when individuals are working on a scientific project together, the color of one’s skin doesn’t matter. It mattered to others, but it didn’t matter to us.”
Tobin (Toby) Smith is Vice President for Science Policy and Global Affairs oversees matters related to science and innovation policy, broader impacts of science, and AAU’s international activities. He shares responsibility for matters concerning research costs and other regulatory and compliance issues, including facilities and administrative costs, export controls, scientific openness and security, public access to research results, and technology transfer. He also staffs the AAU Senior Research Officers (SRO) constituent group. Toby previously worked as a federal relations representative for the University of Michigan and for MIT. He began his career on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to Congressman Bob Traxler (D-MI). Toby serves on the Advisory Board of the International Network for Advancing and Evaluating the Societal Impact of Science (AESIS); is a member of the Council of Experts for the NSF sponsored Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS); and is co-chair of Engaging Scientists in Engineers in Policy (ESEP), an ad hoc alliance of organizations focused on helping scientists and engineers to effectively engage in the policy making process at all levels of government. Toby writes and speaks widely on issues of science policy. He is the co-author of a 2008 book on national science policy titled, Beyond Sputnik – U.S. Science Policy in the 21st Century. He is active in AAAS where he is honorific fellow and officer of the Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering section (Section X). He also serves as a member of the AAAS Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPP). Toby holds a Master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University, and a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies (BGS) from the University of Michigan.
Jennifer B. McCormick is is Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She was formally Assistant Professor of Biomedical Ethics and Associate Consultant (Research), Division of General Internal Medicine Program in Professionalism and Bioethics Research at the Mayo Clinic and College of Medicine and the associate director of the Mayo Clinical Translational Science Award Research Ethics Resource.
Jennifer is an interdisciplinary academic having completed a doctorate degree in molecular and cellular biology, postdoctoral fellowship in biological chemistry, masters’ degree in public policy, and NIH Center of Excellence in ELSI Research fellowship. This mix of experiences and expertise comes across in both her research and teaching. Jennifer conducts empirical studies examining the policy implications and ethical challenges of translating research into clinical care and public health.
Much of her work focuses on the ethical, legal/policy, social implications of medical record and genomic data sharing, the challenges to protecting participants’ privacy and confidentiality in the era of ‘big data’, and the ethical complexities presented by translating genomic research findings into clinical and public health domains. She has also been involved in initiatives aimed at enhancing human participation in research and promoting professionalism and social responsibility in biomedical research.
Jennifer lectures frequently on topics related to research and translational research ethics, translational genomics, and social responsibility and policy. She has published on topics related to research ethics consultation, genetic and genomic research and biobanking, human research participant engagement and protection, and challenges in translational research.
Jennifer is an interdisciplinary academic having completed a doctorate degree in molecular and cellular biology, postdoctoral fellowship in biological chemistry, masters’ degree in public policy, and NIH Center of Excellence in ELSI Research fellowship. This mix of experiences and expertise comes across in both her research and teaching. Jennifer conducts empirical studies examining the policy implications and ethical challenges of translating research into clinical care and public health.
Much of her work focuses on the ethical, legal/policy, social implications of medical record and genomic data sharing, the challenges to protecting participants’ privacy and confidentiality in the era of ‘big data’, and the ethical complexities presented by translating genomic research findings into clinical and public health domains. She has also been involved in initiatives aimed at enhancing human participation in research and promoting professionalism and social responsibility in biomedical research.
Jennifer lectures frequently on topics related to research and translational research ethics, translational genomics, and social responsibility and policy. She has published on topics related to research ethics consultation, genetic and genomic research and biobanking, human research participant engagement and protection, and challenges in translational research.