Carl Wieman Chosen for White House Science Post

Physicist Carl Wieman has been picked to be associate director for science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

A 2001 Nobelist for creating a new form of matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate, Wieman has since become a leader in the effort to reform U.S. undergraduate education. He divides his time between the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, in Canada, and the University of Colorado, Boulder.

The science slot, which also oversees education, is one of four associate director positions at OSTP. Today's announcement was the president's intent to nominate him. The nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.