Physics Ph.D. Candidate Wins 2009 A.P.S. Fellowship

RESEARCH EXAMINES NEW WAYS TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS

The American Physical Society has awarded a 2009 Student Fellowship in Physics and Society to UM graduate student Zhenyuan Zhao. A Ph.D. candidate in physics, Zhao is conducting research on agent- based modeling, the dynamics of groups, and complex dynamical networks. “Zhao won the award because of his novel use of physics to address the global challenge of reducing carbon emissions,” said physics professor Neil Johnson. “His scheme uses recent advances in the physics of complexity to design a self-organized market system to address this issue.”

Under Johnson’s guidance, Zhao’s research generally examines the physics of collective behavior and properties that emerge in real-world systems. During the past few years he has been working on several interdisciplinary projects that relate to biochemistry, economics, and sociology. “The fascinating aspect” of his carbon emissions project in particular, said Johnson, “is that it is built around healthy competition, as opposed to top-down regulation, yet it manages to avoid dangerous peaks in daily emissions. Implementing this very practical scheme at national and/or state level would allow the U.S. to truly lead the world in carbon emissions management.”

Zhao received a B.Sc. in physics from Nanjing University, China, in 2005 and an M.Sc. in physics from UM in 2007. He was awarded the People’s Scholarship during his undergraduate years, and in 2007 Zhao received the Award of Academic Merit from UM. His master’s work focused on fluid dynamics.

The Student Fellowship in Physics and Society includes a $4,000 stipend for research. Zhao also has been invited to present his research at the joint conference of the American Physical Society (APS) and American Association of Physics Teachers in February 2010 in Washington, D.C., and at another A.P.S. meeting, in Portland, Oregon, the following month.