November 14, 2006

NOBEL PRIZE-WINNER RUSSELL HULSE ELECTED TO BATTELLE BOARD

Columbus, Ohio--Dr. Russell A. Hulse, who won the 1993 Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of the first binary pulsar, has been elected to Battelle's Board of Directors.

Hulse and his thesis advisor, Dr. Joseph Taylor Jr., shared the Nobel Prize for their 1974 discovery of a twin star system that continues to provide a rare natural laboratory for testing Einstein's theories on gravity and relativity. Hulse was a 23-year-old graduate student at the time of the discovery.

Today Hulse is a principal research physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) at Princeton University. He also is Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development and a Visiting Professor of Physics and of Science and Mathematics Education at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD).

"Russell Hulse is one of the world's preeminent physicists and has been since the discovery more than 30 years ago that led to his Nobel Prize," said John B. McCoy, Chairman of the Battelle Board of Directors. "He will bring tremendous experience and knowledge to Battelle and we are very pleased to welcome him to the Board."

Hulse replaces a Princeton colleague, Dr. John J. Hopfield, on Battelle's Board. Hopfield, a Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton and recent recipient of the 2005 Albert Einstein World Award of Science, is retiring from his seat.

"All of us at Battelle are excited to have Russell Hulse join the Board," said Carl F. Kohrt, Battelle President and CEO. "The discovery of the binary pulsar is considered by many to be among the top scientific discoveries of the 20th Century and has had vast impact on astrophysics and gravitational physics research. His experience in breakthrough science and his personal commitment to improving math and science education K-16 will add another valuable voice to our organization."

Hulse earned a bachelor's degree in physics from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and a doctorate in physics from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He joined the PPPL in 1977 and has worked there ever since. In 2004, he began his concurrent relationship with UTD.

Battelle is the world's largest independent research and development organization, with 20,000 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including five national laboratories Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle conducts $3.7 billion in R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management, and technology commercialization. Battelle provides innovative solutions to some of the world's most important problems including global climate change, sustainable energy technologies, high performance materials, next generation healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics, and advanced security solutions for people, infrastructure, and the nation. Battelle has a long history of developing successful commercial products in collaboration with its clients, ranging from products to fight diabetes, cancer and heart disease to the development of the office copier machine (Xerox). As a non-profit charitable trust with an eye toward the future, Battelle actively supports and promotes science and math education.

For more information, visit www.battelle.org or contact Media Relations Manager Mark Berry at (614) 424-5544 or at berrym@battelle.org.