Obama Honors UCSB Professor Emeritus

President Barack Obama last week awarded UCSB professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering Arthur Gossard a National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The ceremony, which took place in the White House’s East Room, honored eight researchers with medals for technology and innovation and nine with National Medals of Science. The awards are bestowed upon the nation’s highest achievers in science and technology.

“As an American, I’m proud of everything that you’ve done to contribute to that fearless spirit of innovation that’s made us who we are, and that doesn’t just benefit our citizens but benefits the world. We’re very proud of what you’ve done,” the president said shortly before presenting the award.

Gossard received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University and his PhD in physics from UC Berkeley. Since joining UCSB’s faculty in 1987, he has gained a highly respected reputation for his research of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) — a technique for making crystals used in semi-conductors — and the physics of low-dimensional structures, among other aspects of nanotechnology.

Gossard helped form Superconductor Technologies, Inc., a superconductor manufacturing company based in Austin, Texas. Among his list of scientific successes has been applying high-temperature superconductivity to cellphone networks, which he expanded to ocean-based wind turbines generating electrical power.

“I am honored to join the group of other scientists, engineers, and technologists who have previously received this award,” Gossard told The UCSB Current. “I want to thank my family, teachers, and colleagues for their huge contributions.”