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Galileo Circle Fellows

The 2009 Galileo Circle Fellows

Five distinguished faculty members of the University of Arizona College of Science have been named as 2009 Galileo Circle Fellows, one of the highest honors bestowed upon faculty in the College.

Left to right: Michael L. Rosenzweig, E. Philip Krider, F. Ann Walker, Joseph C. Watkins, Xiaohui Fan.

Michael L. Rosenzweig

Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Named Eminent Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America in 2008, Michael Rosenzweig is recognized as one of the most important figures in modern day ecology. Among Dr. Rosenzweig's numerous contributions are his seminal works on predator-prey interactions, community ecology and speciation theory. His visionary approach to conservation biology resulted in the development of a new field - reconciliation ecology, or the science of accommodating wild species in places where humans live, work, or play.

E. Philip Krider

Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences/Institute of Atmospheric Physics?Philip Krider's pioneering scientific research in lightning and atmospheric electricity has earned him national and international prominence. Dr. Krider invented the lightning sensor technology that is now being used by the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network and by similar networks in over 40 foreign countries. He also chairs a NASA/Air Force/FAA advisory panel that insures lightning safety during space launches. Dr. Krider holds eight patents, co-founded a successful Tucson company, Lightning Location and Protection, and is a noted historian of 18th century science.

F. Ann Walker

Regents' Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ann Walker has received many distinguished national and international awards for her research in the areas of physical inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry and biophysics. Her fundamental investigations of cytochromes, which play a primary role in energy transport between cells, led her to work on model compounds to determine the structure and properties of heme proteins. Among the heme proteins she studies are those found in the saliva of blood-sucking insects such as the kissing bug. Findings from her work, along with those of her many collaborators, will ultimately lead to a better understanding of how Chagas' disease is transmitted.

Joseph C. Watkins

Professor of Mathematics
Joseph Watkins brings his deep mathematic skills in probability and statistics to interdisciplinary research on an array of problems in the life sciences. Examples of his collaborative work include the application of statistical analysis and modeling to the study of language and gene evolution in Southeast Asian/Pacific communities and the use of sophisticated Markov processes to model the population growth of soil bacteria. He also directs the Native American Summer Institute, a program aimed at preparing Native American students for higher education through a science and math curriculum based on biology, algebra and the economics of beekeeping.

Xiaohui Fan

Associate Professor of Astronomy/Steward Observatory
Xiaohui Fan has been called a star in the field of astronomy. He is a world leader in finding the most distant objects in the Universe and determining their physical properties. His breakthrough discoveries have informed current views on the formation of early galaxies and supermassive black holes. He continues to push the frontiers of observational astronomy through his work on the Large Binocular Telescope and the future James Webb Space Telescope.