96-09-11 Distinguished University Professors Named OHIO STATE NAMES DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University has reinstated a program to honor its most outstanding faculty members -- the Distinguished University Professorship. The 1996 faculty honorees are Lawrence A. Brown of COLUMBUS (43214), Distinguished University Professor of geography; Liang- Shih Fan of UPPER ARLINGTON, Distinguished University Professor of chemical engineering; and Karl Rubin of COLUMBUS (43214), Distinguished University Professor of mathematics. Ohio State had begun the program about a decade ago to acknowledge outstanding senior faculty. "Budget cuts prevented bestowing the honor for several years, but the university decided to reinstate the program to reward faculty with truly exceptional records," said Richard Sisson, senior vice president and provost. "We are proud of our Distinguished University Professors," President E. Gordon Gee said. "They are outstanding and tireless academics who inspire not only their students, but also their colleagues." The Office of Academic Affairs will award the permanent title on a competitive basis to up to three faculty members each year. The recipients, who each receive $30,000 over three years to support their academic work, will be honored at a reception from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Faculty Club Grand Lounge, 181 S. Oval Dr. Distinguished University Professors continue their regular program of teaching; research, scholarly or creative work; and service. They are nominated by their colleagues both at Ohio State and internationally. Evaluators from outside the university are invited to assess the quality and significance of each nominee's academic accomplishments. The 1996 honorees' careers reflect their seniority and status as faculty leaders: -- Brown is chair of the Department of Geography. He specializes in the study of "innovation diffusion," or the adoption and spread of new products and techniques across the Earth's surface; and in population movement, most recently the development of urban areas in South America. His record of scholarship includes four books and 90 articles in leading geography and social science journals. He won Ohio State's highest research honor, the Distinguished Scholar Award, in 1984. Brown received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1966 and joined the Ohio State faculty as an associate professor in 1968. He was promoted to full professor in 1971. Brown's commitment to students shows in his advising 25 Ph.D. and 10 postdoctoral students. His strong interest in undergraduate education led to the University's highest teaching honor, the Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award, in 1993. His service activities include the presidency this year of the 7,500-member Association of American Geographers. -- Fan is chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. He is a world leader in fluidization and fluid particle systems, and in powder technology. He has investigated the flow of bubbles in fluids under high pressure and in high temperatures. His work has led to design principles used by oil and chemical companies. Research in dry powders are important to controlling emissions of toxic metals from burning coal. Fan has written three books, 180 journal articles and nine book chapters. He has been honored 25 times by professional societies and universities worldwide for his research. He also is a Distinguished University Scholar. He has received more than $5 million in research grants and support, and has directed research by 30 doctoral, 27 masters and 36 postdoctoral students. Students and faculty of the College of Engineering have twice honored his teaching. Even as the department's top administrator, he teaches two courses. Fan was awarded Ohio State's first International Outstanding Faculty Award in 1992. Fan received his masters degree and doctorate in chemical engineering, both from West Virginia University. He also received a master's degree in statistics from Kansas State University. -- Rubin works in the field of number theory, one of the oldest branches of math and one concerned with solving equations in integers. A pioneer on the frontier of mathematics, he studies how to apply Euler systems to problems in number theory. Euler systems are a mathematical tool. A nominator said, "I do regard Karl Rubin as belonging to the group of the few leading mathematicians of our time who will shape the future of our science." In 1992, Rubin received the Cole Prize in Number Theory, the most distinguished mathematical prize worldwide. The American Mathematical Society gives the award only once every five years. Rubin received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University in 1976, and his master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard in 1977 and 1981, respectively. He joined the Ohio State faculty in 1984 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to professor in 1987. He served as a visiting professor at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study for two quarters in 1995-96, the latest of several visiting positions at universities in the United States and Europe. # Contact: Richard Sisson, Academic Affairs, (614) 292-5881 Lawrence Brown, Geography, (614) 292-2320 Liang-Shih Fan, Chemical Engineering, (614) 292-7907 Karl Rubin, Mathematics, (614) 292-8678 [Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu) Wed, 11 Sep 1996 11:44:35 -0400] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.