American Physical Society Appoints New Editor in Chief

Professor Pierre Meystre of the University of Arizona to take over as APS Editor in Chief in August 2016

COLLEGE PARK, MD, June 23, 2016 – The Board of Directors of the American Physical Society (APS) has unanimously approved the appointment, put forward by APS CEO Kate Kirby, of Pierre Meystre as Editor in Chief of the Physical Review journals.

Meystre is currently Regents Professor of Physics and Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, Director of the Biosphere 2 Institute in Oracle, Arizona, Director of the Arizona Center for STEM Teachers, and has served as lead editor of the journal Physical Review Letters since 2013. He will take over full responsibilities as APS Editor in Chief in August 2016.

"I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to take the helm of the world's most respected physics journals,” said Meystre, “and am looking forward to working with the terrific editorial and publishing teams at APS in continuing to serve the physics community by further expanding the quality and breadth of our publications. This is a remarkably dynamic time for physics, which is witnessing impressive developments, both in its traditional areas but also at the intersection between subfields and at the boundary with other sciences—in particular the life sciences. APS publications must remain a leader in communicating scientific progress in all these facets. At the same time, scientific publishing faces a number of challenges and the APS is well placed to show leadership in addressing those as well. I am eagerly anticipating working with the APS membership and international scientific community in addressing these challenges."

The APS Editor in Chief Search Committee that selected Meystre was chaired by 2011 APS President Barry Barish. "We conducted a wide-ranging search to find the best possible candidate,” said Barish. “We sought someone who is a prominent member of the scientific community, as well as having a broad knowledge of physics, a commitment to the APS, and a forward-looking vision for our journals. Pierre has all those qualities, plus he will bring abundant energy and a very human approach to the job."

“Meystre’s passion for physics and commitment to the journals made a strong impression on all of us,” said Kirby. “I look forward to working with Pierre and having him involved in the leadership of the Society.”

Meystre plans to relocate from Arizona to the Long Island area, and will be based full-time at the APS editorial offices in Ridge, NY. In the interim, Dan Kulp will continue as Acting Editor in Chief of the Physical Review journals and the APS will seek a replacement for Meystre as lead editor of Physical Review Letters.

Contact: James Riordon, APS, riordon@aps.org, (301) 209-3238

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The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world.