IUPUI Physics Department Profile

The March 2013 meeting of the American Physical Society was broadcast live as streaming video for a week. Incidentally, this was the largest APS meeting in history. Throughout the broadcast there were profiles of ten physics department interspersed throughout the live video. Among those ten profiles were the physics departments of IUPUI and MIT. Since Forrest received his Ph.D. from MIT and worked at IUPUI for many years, he thought the juxtaposition was nice. The video was professionally done and the department came across very nicely.       Click image for video.

IUPUI has recognized Forrest with two honors since he retired.

The First Honor (2006)

Most of our Indianapolis family accompanied Forrest as he received this year's 'Philanthropy Award' from the School of Science. The ceremony was held in the main hall of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, which was a bit overwhelming to start with. Each of the thirteen schools at IUPUI makes an award so Forrest was mixed in with some 'heavy hitters' from the Indiana University School of Medicine and the School of Law. That made him wonder 'Should I really be here?' and then it got worse.

The awardees were accompanied to the front podium while one of the newscasters from an Indianapolis TV station read some flattering comments and the reason for the award. They shook hands with the Chancellor and had their picture taken holding the award. Schools were taken in alphabetical order so Science was near the end of the program. We listened to some impressive comments; e.g. the sixth awardee before Forrest was a guy who had been the chairman of a five year fund raising drive that brought ONE BILLION Dollars to Indiana University. Billion! I thought I had wandered into the wrong room or my old physics buddies were playing a trick.

Update, June 2013: Forrest's gift established the Forrest Meiere Research Fund for Physics. Since then there has been $20,000 contributed to the fund by others. Forrest has agreed to match contributions 2 for 1 until the goal of $100,000 is reached. At that point, dividends from the fund will be distributed to the IUPUI Physics department annually. That should happen this year.


Click to see four pictures of the presentation.

Click on brochure cover to see inside.

The Second Honor (recurring)

Several years ago, the Physics Department renamed the 'Outstanding Physics Mayor' award. It is now the Forrest Meiere Prize. We usually attend the Honors Day dinner where the prize is awarded. This year it was held several weeks before the Philanthropy Awards and we decided we weren't up to two trips so close together. However, the University invited Keith and Kristen to attend the dinner, and after reading some flattering remarks about me, asked Keith and Kristen to present the award. In many ways, that touched me more than my own award later.

This year's student winner was very impressive. He was awarded a B.S. Degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the same time. The student wrote a nice Thank You note to the department and a nice letter to me. He has accepted a job with Rolls Royce and his supervisor will be a former student of mine who won the Outstanding Physics Student Award twenty years ago.

More pictures from Philanthropy Award Ceremony.

There were enough old friends from Physics faculty who attended that we took up full table and half of another. That was nice. In addition, the Physics Chairman had a gift for Pat and me. It was a painting by a student from our Herron School of Art which depicted the Wood Fountain. That was my favorite display on campus and my old office looks right out on Wood Plaza and this fountain.

After the Philanthropy Award Ceremony the Department took us out to dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant. I felt like a Seminar Speaker again - that is how invited speakers are treated. ( I really miss the Physics but I don't miss writing grant applications.)

Life has some ironic twists. Research was the main focus of my career and took up most of my time. Although I am proud of what I did, Physics has moved on and now very little is said about my research. Apparently I am best remembered for everything else.

Click on the painting to see the real fountain.

Return to the Meiere Home Page.