Dear Orange Friends:
People ask me a lot what it means to be a great research university. Today I have a new answer: it is when faculty, students, and staff collaborate to help give the whole world a new way to understand the universe.
This morning three Syracuse physicists, in partnership with scientists from across the globe, unveiled a historic scientific discovery , the first-ever detection of gravitational waves. This research confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, and opens an unprecedented new window into the universe.
For that great gift, I want to thank and congratulate our outstanding team of physicists from the College of Arts and Sciences: Peter Saulson, Martin A. Pomerantz ’37 Professor of Physics; Duncan Brown, Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics; and Stefan Ballmer, assistant professor of physics.
Also instrumental in this historic effort were all the members of the University’s Gravitational Wave Group includes undergraduate and graduate students, as well as research staff. I encourage you to watch this video, which tells the story of the discovery through the lens of our Syracuse faculty, students, and research staff., which includes undergraduate and graduate students, as well as research staff. I encourage you to watch this video , which tells the story of the discovery through the lens of our Syracuse faculty, students, and research staff.
I also want to thank the members of the University’s Information Technology Services for the important role they played in supporting the scientists in this effort. I thank leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences and in Physics who have supported gravitational research in Physics for the last 60 years, in good times and in hard times.
I am amazed that researchers at Syracuse have helped complete Albert Einstein’s unfinished business. I am so convinced by this experience of the importance of universities and departments working together to discover the unknown and answer timeless questions.
Today is a day of discovery that defines a great university. And now there are a million new questions to pursue. That is the thrilling nature of research. It is why we are all so privileged to be a part of Syracuse University.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Kent Syverud