SwRI's Ward Named Fellow of AAAS.BOULDER, Colo. -- The American Association for the Advancement of Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), private organization devoted to furthering the work of scientists and improving the effectiveness of science in the promotion of human welfare. has conferred the distinction of Fellow to Dr. William R. Ward, an Institute scientist in the Space Science and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the oldest and largest independent, nonprofit, applied research and development (R&D) organizations in the United States. Founded in 1947 by Thomas Slick, Jr. . The distinction honors efforts in the advancement of science or its applications deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. Ward was recognized by his peers in the AAAS AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science. Section on Astronomy for outstanding contributions to the study of planetary dynamics. As a theoretician, Ward has contributed fundamental insights to humankind's understanding of planetesimal planetesimal One of a class of bodies that are theorized to have formed the planets after condensing from diffuse matter early in the history of the solar system. According to the nebular hypothesis, part of an interstellar cloud of dust and gas underwent gravitational formation, the origin and dynamical evolution of the moon, planet migration, planetary obliquity obliquity /obliq·ui·ty/ (ob-lik´wit-e) the state of being inclined or slanting.oblique´ Litzmann's obliquity mechanics, and the formation of planetary and satellite systems. He is particularly known for discovering numerous aspects of the complex and subtle dynamical interactions between planetary objects and gaseous and particle disks, for helping to give birth to the giant impact theory of lunar formation and for discovering the oscillations in Mars' polar axis that drive strong climate variation over time. Ward holds bachelor's degrees in mathematics and physics from the University of Missouri (Kansas City) and a doctorate in planetary sciences from the California Institute of Technology California Institute of Technology, at Pasadena, Calif.; originally for men, became coeducational in 1970; founded 1891 as Throop Polytechnic Institute; called Throop College of Technology, 1913–20. . In 2004, he received the prestigious Brouwer Award from the Division on Dynamical Astronomy The Division on Dynamical Astronomy is a branch of the American Astronomical Society that focuses on the advancement of all aspects of dynamical astronomy, including celestial mechanics, solar system dynamics, stellar dynamics, the dynamics of the interstellar medium and galactic of the American Astronomical Society; he was elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2005. He will receive a certificate and rosette pin during the AAAS Annual Meeting in February 2007. The AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. Its tradition of Fellows began in 1874. Editors: A photo to accompany this story is available at http://www.swri.org/press/2005/Ward.htm. SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 3,000 employees and an annual research volume of more than $435 million. Southwest Research Institute and SwRI are registered marks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For more information about Southwest Research Institute, please visit newsroom.swri.org or www.swri.org. |
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