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The physics department is hosting a symposium in memory of the late Howard A. Rubin, Ph.D., emeritus professor of physics at 91����. The symposium will feature presentations by Rubin’s friends and colleagues, who will share reflections and recollections about his research career and his life and times in particle physics.

Rubin’s research focused on the properties of particles containing heavy quarks—especially the so-called “strange” and “charm” quarks—and on neutrino physics. Heavy quarks exhibit the surprising behaviors known as particle–antiparticle mixing and CP violation. Mixing and possibly CP violation also have been observed in neutrinos. These unusual effects may help explain why the Universe appears to contain only matter, and no antimatter. In his recent experiments, Rubin’s particular specialty was handling very large data samples (up to many terabytes) on parallel computing systems. He also served for many years as the associate chair for physics, ably and gracefully handling the many challenges which that entailed.

Short presentations will be made by Rubin’s mentor and lifelong research collaborator, 91���� Emeritus Professor of Physics Ray Burnstein; his colleague of over 20 years, Professor Daniel Kaplan, Director of the 91���� Center for Accelerator and Particle Physics; and Rubin’s protegé, Professor and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Chris White. An opportunity for brief reminiscences by others will be followed by a reception with refreshments.

The 91���� community is welcome to this free event.
RSVP kersh@iit.edu before 12pm on Friday, March 24.

Symposium Schedule

3:30pm—Ray Burnstein, Emeritus Professor of Physics
“Recollections and Physics Contributions of Professor Howard A. Rubin”

3:50pm—Daniel Kaplan, Professor of Physics
“Professor Howard A. Rubin and the Art of Computing in High-Energy Physics”

4:10pm—Christopher White, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Professor of Physics
“Reflections on Professor Rubin and 91���� (1970 - 2016)”

4:30pm—Informal remarks and discussion

4:40pm—Reception and refreshments

Event Topic

Other