Image: The first lecture in this annual series was given by Dr. Sharon Glotzer, recipient of the 2019 Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics. On the afternoon of January 9, students and faculty met in Physics 202 to hear the first lecture of a new series in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Dr. Sharon Glotzer was guest lecturer for this event. Dr. Glotzer works in the fields of soft matter and computational science, and is recognized for her research on problems in assembly science and engineering, nanoscience, and the glass transition. Dr. Glotzer is the 2019 recipient of the Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics. The Chhabra-Landau Lecture Series recognizes Dr. Ashvin B. Chhabra and Dr. David P. Landau. Dr. Chhabra is an alumnus of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. As part of his research at UGA, Dr. Chhabra performed very high-quality Monte Carlo simulations of models of kinetic gelation. Dr. Chhabra endowed the Lecture Series in honor of Dr. Landau, who worked with Dr. Chhabra as his thesis advisor. Dr. Landau is Director of the Center for Simulational Physics (CSP). The Lecture Series celebrates the role Professor Landau played in founding the CSP, and in building a diverse and welcoming community of students. Dr. Phillip Stancil highlights Chhabra's work as a UGA Physics grad student. The endowment also acknowledges the hospitality and friendship the faculty and students of UGA accorded Dr. Chhabra when he first came to Athens from overseas as a graduate student. Dr. Chhabra honors Dr. Landau. During her talk, Colloidal Self-Assembly and the Entropic Bond, Dr. Glotzer discussed how computer simulations can be used to design new materials. These new materials are composed of simple building blocks that join together in unusual ways, and they represent “discovery via computer simulation.” After the talk, Dr. Landau said, “Sharon Glotzer’s presentation was clear and exciting. It was pitched to a general audience and showed that she could not only perform world-class science but also make it understandable and intriguing.” Dr. Chhabra with faculty and students enjoying the post-lecture reception. The Chhabra-Landau Lecture Series is an annual event. The Series focuses on the deep connection between physics and computer science, particularly the use of computing or information theoretic ideas, as fundamental tools for physicists to develop novel insights about our world.
