DURHAM, N.H. - University of New Hampshire physics professor Lynn Kistler has been named a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the largest single organization dedicated to the advancement of geophysics. Kistler is the director of the Space Science Center at UNH's Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS).

AGU membership encompasses more than 60,000 individuals from more than 135 countries, and to be designated a Fellow is reserved for those who have made exceptional scientific contributions and attained acknowledged eminence in their particular discipline. 
This year's class of Fellows are geographically diverse coming from 18 states and eight countries.

"We are delighted that the AGU has recognized Professor Kistler's scholarly excellence with this rare honor," said physics professor Harlan Spence, director of EOS. "I have known Lynn since I was a graduate student and have always admired her work, her work ethic and her approach to science. She's a terrific colleague, which makes this honor extra nice."

Kistler's work focuses on understanding the impacts of heavy ions on the dynamics of the magnetosphere, the magnetic shield that protects Earth from solar and cosmic radiation, both through data analysis and the development of mass spectrometers to make the required measurements. She has also been involved in the design and testing of instruments for six NASA missions. Currently, she is a co-investigator designing the heavy-ion sensor instrument for the Solar Orbiter mission, scheduled to launch in 2018. In addition, she has participated on strategic planning and advisory panels for NASA and the National Academy of Sciences.

"I am very honored to be recognized in this way by the AGU community," Kistler said. "It's always a privilege to have my work noticed and appreciated."
 
Kistler received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. She came to UNH in 1990 after two years at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and has directed the Space Science Center since 2013. Among her previous honors and awards was the 2012 Karen Von Damm Leadership Development Grant from the UNH ADVANCE program, funded with support from the National Science Foundation to support the advancement and leadership of women faculty in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at UNH.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 13,000 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students.
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