Alumnus Philip Marston Wins National
Award for Research in Physical Acoustics
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY Professor
of Physics Philip Marston ’70 received the silver medal in physical
acoustics from the Acoustical Society of America in November 2003.
Only nine other scientists have received the award since its initiation
28 years ago.
Recognizing his contributions to the advancement of
science, engineering and human welfare through the application of
acoustic principles, the award was presented to Marston at the Society’s
biannual meeting in Austin, Texas. He was cited as being a “renaissance
scientist, using experimental and theoretical techniques to uncover
fundamental physical processes.”
Marston’s research has produced
theories of acoustical scattering and acoustical manipulation of
fluids. “Scattering research contributes to naval operations since
underwater sound is used to sense the environment,” says Marston.
Acoustical manipulation has been used to manage fluids in reduced
gravity and has potential applications for homeland security.
His
interest in acoustics, says Marston, began when he was a high school
student. “The people at Seattle Pacific were very helpful in nurturing
my interest in physics,” he says. It didn’t hurt either that Otto
Miller, the late Seattle Pacific professor of physics, was Marston’s
next-door neighbor.
In previous years, Marston’s other highprofile
experiments have been performed on NASA space shuttles and reduced-gravity
flights in Houston and in Cleveland, Ohio. Much of his work continues
to be funded by grants from NASA and the Office of Naval Research.
Marston says he has a long line of people to thank for the success
of his research: colleagues, students and mentors. At the end of
the day, he says, that’s what counts. “You work really hard on physics — doing
science — but the important thing is how you relate to people. That’s
what I always try to remember.”
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