June 17, 2003

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NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING PHYSICIST JOINS SETI INSTITUTE BOARD

The SETI Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Charles H. Townes to the Institute's Board of Trustees, effective June 5. Winner of the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of the laser, Townes addition will expand the exceptional scientific expertise that distinguishes the SETI Institute Board.

Says SETI Institute CEO, Thomas Pierson, "Charles Townes is well known for his technological innovations, his ability to see the potential of new scientific ideas, and his effective leadership in the numerous advisory roles in which he has served. We couldn't hope for a better fit for our governance body."

Townes is currently Professor Emeritus and professor in the graduate school of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. While much of his current research has been directed towards understanding the galactic center of the Milky Way, Townes has retained a long-standing interest in SETI, and his pioneering theoretical work in the field led to the development of today's optical SETI projects.

In 1997, Professor Townes participated in a SETI Institute working group convened to design a roadmap for SETI research that would advance the discipline for the next two decades (the report of the proceedings is available for the Institute as the publication SETI 2020).

Comments Dr. Jill Tarter, Director and Bernard Oliver Chair holder in the Center for SETI research, "Charlie has given so much to the SETI community. We saw an amazing blossoming of optical SETI search projects as a direct result of his participation in our working group. We are delighted that he continues to contribute to SETI through his Board membership."

Townes joins fellow Nobel laureate, Dr. Baruch Blumberg as the second Board addition this year, and joins a distinguished roster of science, technology, and business leaders comprising the Institute's Board. With the addition of Townes, the SETI Institute Board currently includes two Nobel Prize winners, five members of the National Academy of Sciences, two members of the National Academy of Engineering, and five Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Says Townes, "I'm very pleased to accept this appointment. The work of the SETI Institute is very important. If we get a signal, or if we search and find nothing, either way we will learn something very profound about ourselves."

Townes completed his undergraduate education at Furman University in South Carolina before earning a master's degree in physics from Duke University and a Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology. Townes is perhaps best known for his Nobel Prize-winning work in lasers, which has revolutionized communications, medicine and industry.

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Diane Richards
Marketing and Communications Officer
(650) 960-4513
drichards@seti.org

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Related Links:

• Charles Townes Biography

• Voices Featuring Charles Townes

• Charles Townes Receives SETI Institute's 2002 Drake Award

• Board of Trustees