Prize Recipient

Charles M. Falco
University of Arizona

"For his award-winning "The Art of the Motorcycle" exhibition for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (co-curator), and his work with the renowned artist David Hockney on the optical science utilized by the grand master artists; each unique project has made the public aware of the contributions of science to their daily lives."

Charles M. Falco received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of California at Irvine in 1970, 1971, and 1974. He is currently appointed to both the Optical Sciences and Physics departments at University of Arizona and is the UA Chair of Condensed Matter Physics. His research is in condensed matter physics studying various physical properties of thin film materials grown by chemical deposition, sputtering, and Molecular Beam Epitaxy, and he has published more than 275 scientific manuscripts, co-edited two books, has seven U.S. patents, and given over 400 invited talks at conferences, research institutions, and cultural organizations in 32 countries. Honors include the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Distinguished U.S. Scientist Award, Industrial Research 100 Award, Technology 100 Award, AICA Design Exhibition Award, NAEA Ziegfield Lectureship Award and most recently an invited presentation in the opening ceremony of the 2015 United Nations `International Year of Light`. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Optical Society of America, and the Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

E. Dan Dahlberg, Chair; Yvan Bruynseraede; Diandra Leslie-Pelecky; Ivan Schuller