Hariri Faculty Affiliates Siddarth Ramachandran (ENG) Daniel Segrè Elected AAAS Fellows
Distinguished Professor of Engineering Siddharth Ramachandran and Professor of Biology, Biomedical Engineering and Physics Daniel Segrè have been elected to the 2023 class of The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows, a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community.
“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the AAAS Fellows Program, AAAS is proud to recognize the newly elected individuals. This year’s class embodies scientific excellence, fosters trust in science throughout the communities they serve, and leads the next generation of scientists while advancing scientific achievements,” says Sudip S. Parikh, AAAS CEO and executive publisher of the Science family of journals.
Professor Ramachandran studies the use of structured light, specifically light beams that travel twisting paths instead of straight lines. In a 2013 Science publication, he and his team showcased the ability of corkscrew laser beams to potentially double or quadruple the capacity of fiber-optic cables, crucial for internet data transmission. Recently, in a groundbreaking follow-up study published last year, they demonstrated the potential to transmit data 50 to 100 times greater than current network capabilities using tornado-shaped light beams. Additionally, their research unveiled a fascinating scientific correlation: photons traveling along these spiral paths exhibit similar orbital motion to binary stars in outer space.
Professor Segrè‘s research focuses on unraveling microbial metabolism. Through this exploration, Segrè aims to identify specific combinations of bacteria or metabolic functions within the human microbiome that promote health and stability. Additionally, he sees potential applications in environmental conservation, such as assisting plant-associated microbes in sequestering carbon dioxide. Affiliated with BU’s Bioinformatics Program and Biological Design Center, Segrè emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and pushing beyond traditional academic boundaries.
About the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For additional information about AAAS, visit www.aaas.org.