This month ocean scientist Catherine O’Riordan becomes the new vice president of the Physics Resources Center at the American Institute of Physics. In that post, she will direct AIP’s statistical research, history, education, media and government relations, magazines, and industrial outreach programs that serve 10 member societies, the public, and the corporate sector. The magazines division produces Physics Today. O’Riordan replaces former physics professor James Stith, who announced his retirement earlier this year following 10 years at AIP.
O’Riordan, who holds a doctorate in civil engineering from Stanford University and specializes in environmental fluid mechanics, was director of science development and education at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, a nonprofit organization that represents 95 private and public ocean research institutions. Prior to that, she managed society and public affairs programs at the American Geophysical Union for eight years. O’Riordan says that her experiences at AGU familiarized her with AIP’s...
