Honors

Prizes & Awards

Jesse W. Beams Award 

The Jesse W. Beams Research Award, first presented in 1973, was established by the  Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society to recognize especially significant or  meritorious research in physics, the major portion of which was carried out while the recipient was resident in the SESAPS region

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George B. Pegram Award 

The George B. Pegram Award, first awarded in 1971, was created by the Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society to honor “Excellence in the Teaching of Physics in the Southeast.” 

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Francis Slack Award 

The Francis G. Slack Award was created by the Southeastern Section of the American  Physical Society to honor Excellence in Service to Physics in the Southeast. 

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Award Donations

The three awards presented by the Southeastern Section rely on member contributions to sustain them. Many members of the section have made previous donations for the Jesse Beams Award, the George Pegram Award, and the Francis Slack Award.

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2025 Beams, Pegram, and Slack Award Winners

Beams Award winner: Prof. Michael Chapman, Georgia Institute of Technology

Citation

"For the development and application of novel experimental methods in the areas of ultracold atoms, quantum optics, and quantum information." 

Pegram Award winner: Prof. Balša Terzić, Old Dominion University

Citation

“For his outstanding contributions to research mentoring and teaching of undergraduate students from a wide range of institutions, many of whom have gone on to graduate study and full-time positions in physics, for his development of a new major in Astrophysics at Old Dominion University, and for his authorship of a textbook on Relativity and Cosmology for upper-level undergraduates.” 

Slack Award winner: Prof. Calvin R. Howell, Duke University

Citation

"For four decades of distinguished service to the nuclear physics community in the Southeast in various leadership roles, including leadership as Director of the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; for supporting underrepresented groups in science, mentoring students and researchers at all levels, and for serving as an inspiring role model."


Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.