Donna Strickland has been officially inducted into the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honours a scientist can receive in the United States.
Donna Strickland, Nobel Laureate in physics (2018) was recognized in a pandemic-delayed ceremony this past year for her election to the academy in 2020.
After a two-year wait, the McMaster engineering physics graduate was among 146 inductees celebrated on April 29 at the 2022 annual meeting.
The NAS recognizes and promotes outstanding science by electing members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Three academies – the NAS, the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine – work together to advise the U.S. government and inform public policy. The NAS in particular advises the nation on matters of science and technology.
As of this May, the NAS membership has grown to 2,512, of which 517 are international members. Approximately 500 inductees have been Nobel Prize recipients.
Strickland, now a professor in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo, shares her Nobel Prize with her former PhD advisor, Gerard Mourou.
She received an honourary doctorate from McMaster University in 2019 and was recognized with an honourary fellowship to the Canadian Academy of Engineering that same year. Strickland has also been appointed to the Order of Canada.
“Science is important to society. I don’t (think) that we in North America give enough credit to how important science is to build a strong economy in this high-tech world. The parts of the world that are investing heavily in science are the ones moving the fastest forward. I’m a little afraid North America will be left behind if we don’t start understanding that,” she previously told McMaster Engineering.
Acknowledged as a pioneer in physics who co-created the practical implementation of chirped pulse amplification, Strickland crossed the stage to a chorus of applause and signed her name into the academy’s registry.
