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University of Maryland Department of Physics 1117 John S. Toll Physics Building College Park , MD 20742

Dear Colleagues,

I am honored, as I’ve always been, to be a part of this establishment which has already embarked on another remarkable year. With so many people striving for the department’s excellence, it’s no wonder why we are such a successful institution.

My term, as chair, began this past summer just as the University of Maryland, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) announced the creation of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI). This exciting new venture promises to cultivate outstanding research collaborations between our institutions.

In addition to JQI, all of our research groups and centers are exploring a wide variety of physics topics, which consistently produce outstanding results. In fact, the faculty have had another impressive year of accomplishments. Among the numerous awards that our faculty have received this past year are the NSF CAREER Award, the Alfred P. Sloan Award, the Fulbright Award for the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award and the 2006 Nobel Prize by Adjunct Professor and Goddard Scientist, John C. Mather. Their hard work has brought international recognition to the department and the University.

Additionally, this past year, the Physical Sciences Complex (PSC) was given highest priority on the university’s campus improvement initiative. We have made excellent progress in our plans for this state-of-the-art facility and were given two-years worth of planning money. Construction is slated to begin in January of 2009 and occupancy is scheduled for 2011---if not sooner! We are extremely excited about the PSC which will provide the type of facility needed to conduct high-level experiments.  The PSC is critical in transforming the University of Maryland from a competitor to a national leader.

I am writing you, today, to affirm your connection to the Department of Physics. Your support will provide our students with state-of-the art equipment, scholarships and several other academic initiatives. Should you have any questions, about how you can make a financial contribution to the department, please contact the chair's office staff at 301-405-5945.

Regards,

Andrew Baden
Professor and Chair