Troy, N.Y. - World-famous physics educator Robert Resnick is one of eight new members of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Alumni Hall of Fame.

Resnick is professor emeritus at Rensselaer and the former Edward P. Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Science Education, 1974-93. Together with his co-author David Halliday, he revolutionized physics education with their now-famous textbook on general physics, still one of the most highly regarded texts in the field. Resnick is author or co-author of seven physics textbooks, which appear in 15 editions and more than 47 languages.

Resnick introduced Rensselaer's interdisciplinary science curriculum in 1973 and was chair for 15 years. He was awarded the American Association of Physics Teachers' highest honor, the Oersted Medal, in 1975, and served as the association's president, 1986-90. A Distinguished Service Citation issued in 1967 by the association said, "Few physicists have had greater or more direct influence on undergraduate physics students than has Robert Resnick." Rensselaer named its Robert Resnick Center for Physics Education in his honor.

Resnick was formally inducted into the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony on campus Sept.19. Other 2003 inductees are: Howard P. Isermann, sunscreen developer, Class of 1942; J. Christopher Jaffe, leading acoustician, Class of 1949; Myles N. Brand, NCAA president and leader in higher education, Class of 1964; and Lois Graham, leader in engineering education, Class of 1946. Inducted posthumously this year are astronaut John L. Swigert Jr., Class of 1965; engineer and inventor, Walter Irving, Class of 1896; and geologist Douglass Houghton, Class of 1829.

About the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame
In 1995, the Rensselaer Alumni Association established its Alumni Hall of Fame to preserve and celebrate the long and exceptional heritage of Rensselaer's distinguished graduates. This year's inductees to the Alumni Hall of Fame bring the total number of members to 49. Since its founding in 1824, Rensselaer has graduated alumni whose contributions to society - from 19th century railroad and bridge builders to today's information technology entrepreneurs - have changed the world. For more information, visit the Hall of Fame at http://www.rpi.edu/about/hof/.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu