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Rutgers physicist awarded chair, department
STAFF REPORT
RUTGERS — Sang-Wook Cheong, awarded the Donald H. Jacobs Chair in Applied
Physics by the board of governors yesterday, spoke of the historic role New
Jersey played in the development of the communications industry and sounded an
alarm about its future.
Cheong, who
joined the Rutgers University faculty in 1997 after having worked for AT&T,
Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies, noted how those companies helped
advanced semiconductor technology that became the basis for the development of
the Internet and the communications industry.
"They were all based in New Jersey," he said.
However, apart from investment from private industry and university research,
the state's role is in jeopardy, more so with the announcement Sunday that
Alcatel SA of France has plans to acquire Lucent in a $13.4 billion stock swap.
"Alcatel is not going to care about history in New Jersey," Cheong said.
His concern was echoed by Phillip Furmanski, executive vice president of
academic affairs, who noted how the latest advances in physics are in the field
of nanotechnology, Cheong's speciality.
"We can't miss this next revolution," said Furmanski.
The award, established when Jacobs gave a gift to the university in 1989, is
given for a three-year period to a faculty member distinguished in the field of
applied physics.
Nanotechnology describes the use of technology that manipulates atoms and
molecules.
Cheong, who received a doctorate in physics from the University of
California, Los Angeles, was the world's 13th most cited physicist in the decade
ending in 2003, as measured by the ISI Science Citation Index.
He is an expert, according to information provided by Rutgers, "in the
electronic and structural properties of materials, both natural and synthetic,
that are used in electronic and magnetic components."
Looming over the monthly board of governors meeting yesterday were proposed
cuts in the state budget and their effect on Rutgers, which has been measured at
$100 million.
A resolution by the University Senate concluded that "the proposed cuts to
state higher education funding will fundamentally restrict Rutgers's ability to
remain a nationally competitive university."
University President Richard L. McCormick made reference to the cuts, but
allowed that Gov. Jon S. Corzine had to deal with a budget deficit. He referred
to Corzine as, "our governor, our caring governor."
In an unrelated move, the board of governors did what it traditionally does
with new governors, and announced it will award Corzine an honorary degree.
In other action the governing body:
- Approved the spending of $55 million from the sale of bonds and fundraising
for the Center for Integrative Proteomics Technologies on the Busch campus.
- Approved spending between $2.7 million and $3 million for the Wright-Rieman
Chemistry Lab renovation on the Busch campus.
- Authorized the university to work with the state and Middlesex County to
construct a roundabout on George Street adjacent to the Alexander Library.
- The baseball field on the Livingston campus was named Bainton Field,
following a dona 00009tion of $1.25 million by Ron and Pat Bainton to install
FieldTurf, a synthetic surface.
With most of its players and staff present, the women's basketball team was
honored for its 27-5 season, including a 16-0 record during the Big East
Conference regular season. | 
