STONY BROOK, NY – May 15, 2025 – World renowned experimental physicist, Nobel Laureate and Stony Brook University President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics Barry Barish, PhD, has been elected as a new member of the American Philosophical Society (APS).
The APS is the oldest learned society in North America, co-founded by United States Founding Father Benjamin Franklin with John Bartram, for the “promotion of useful knowledge.” Election to the Society recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in every field of study as well as distinguished work in the arts, business, and public service. Professor Barish is one of 38 new members elected this year. Since APS was founded in 1743, there have been only 5,854 members elected over 282 years.
Professor Barish joined Stony Brook in the fall semester of 2023. He shared the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for the observation of gravitational waves with the historic Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory experiment. This research proved the ripples in the fabric of space and time that were predicted by Albert Einstein 100 years earlier.
“Of all the numerous accolades Barry received, this could be one of the coolest,” said Chang Kee Jung, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “The prestige of an honor is shaped by the people who also receive the honor and Barry has exceptional company in this society, especially C.N. Yang, who was elected in 1964. In physics, we call C.N. Yang “Frank,” his chosen American name for his admiration of Ben Franklin that Barry shares. In my opinion, the discovery of gravitational waves emanating from two merging black holes, for which Barry played a critical role, is one of the greatest triumphs of humanity. So, this recognition is very fitting. We are truly lucky to have Barry at Stony Brook teaching both graduate and undergrad students.”
In addition to teaching, Professor Barish serves as an advisor to Professor Jung and provides guidance on enhancing Stony Brook’s participation in gravitational astronomy research. Professor Barish is also the Ronald and Maxine Linde Professor of Physics, Emeritus, at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Riverside.
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About Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 225,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
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