Poeppel and Dickerson Honored as AAAS Fellows

Two faculty members of the College of Chemical and Life Sciences were recently honored by their peers in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  David Poeppel, Biology and Linguistics, was elected by the section on Linguistics and Language Science, and Russell Dickerson, professor and chair of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science (Computer, Mathematical & Physical Sciences) and professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, by the section on Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Sciences as AAAS Fellows.

The question that animates Dr. David Poeppel is: “How is the brain organized so that you can do these remarkable things, such as talk to each other?” At a basic level, how does the brain convert the physical phenomenon of sound into meaning? Poeppel addresses questions from two different perspectives: by probing the brain as an organ and by testing cognitive abilities through experimental psychology. With these approaches, he tries to learn how the brain works as well as how language works. To study the brain, he relies on imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, which perceives changes in blood flow and oxygenation levels in the brain. This method gives detailed anatomical pictures, but doesn’t resolve events in time as effectively as a technique that directly detects electromagnetic signals, such as magnetoencephalography, or MEG.
Read more on David Poeppel’s research (PDF file).

Dr. Russell Dickerson’s research focuses on the multidisciplinary area of atmospheric chemistry, specifically photochemistry and global biogeochemical cycles. He examines the interactions of weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms, and atmospheric chemistry, ocean-atmosphere interactions, global biogeochemical cycles, air pollution, the links between particulate and gaseous chemistry, photochemical smog, and haze. Dickerson’s research group, composed of chemists and meteorologists, develops analytical instruments (such as chemiluminescent NO, NOx, NOy analyzers, NDIR CO detectors, and chemical actinometers (for photolysis rate measurements). They then employ these instruments in the laboratory, field and on aircraft, and interpret the results in terms of photochemistry and atmospheric physics. For the past ten years, he has collaborated with the Maryland Department of the Environment on the Regional Atmospheric Measurement, Modeling and Prediction Program to help provide the scientific basis for strategies to improve air quality. The AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson, and professional association. The 471 members elected as Fellows are recognized for meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications.