[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5047-H5048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. ROBERT ROSNER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man whose spirit 
and dedication to the world of science inspired him to give four 
decades, with more to come, of tireless service to the Nation as a 
scientist, teacher, mentor, administrator and leader.
  This week Dr. Robert Rosner will step down as director of Argonne 
National Laboratory, a leading Department of Energy science laboratory 
located in my congressional district in Illinois. He plans to resume 
his career in research and teaching at the University of Chicago, where 
he is a world-renowned astrophysicist and the William Wrather 
Distinguished Service Professor in the university's Department of 
Astronomy and Astrophysics.

[[Page H5048]]

  I have had the privilege to work closely with Dr. Rosner during, over 
the last 7 years during his tenure at Argonne, first when he was chief 
scientist and later when he became laboratory director. So I speak with 
personal knowledge and affection when I say that Bob has left an 
indelible stamp on Argonne, the quality of life in my district, the 
Department of Energy complex and the Nation.
  There is no doubt that he has created a positive and lasting legacy, 
both nationally and internationally, and I would like to take this 
moment to pay tribute to his many achievements and to wish him well on 
his return to full-time university life.
  Dr. Rosner's first significant interaction with Argonne came in 1992 
when he led the collaboration between Argonne and the University of 
Chicago scientists who created the Center for Astrophysical 
Thermonuclear Flashes, which he directed from its founding in 1997.

                              {time}  1630

  In 2002, he joined Argonne's directorate as chief scientist and 
associate laboratory director for physical, biological and computing 
science.
  Since his appointment as director of Argonne in 2005, he has served 
as a valuable national leader and spokesman on science policy and the 
value of translational science, science that puts basic knowledge to 
practical use.
  During his term as Argonne director, Bob has strengthened Argonne 
intellectually, organizationally and physically. He strengthened and 
organized the laboratory's core capacities to make them more responsive 
to the Department of Energy's needs and helped forge stronger links 
between Argonne, the University of Chicago and other universities, 
especially in the Midwest.
  He was instrumental in founding the Energy Department's National 
Laboratory Directors Council and served as its first chair. He also has 
worked to launch a number of new research programs and facilities, 
including the Computation Institute, the Leadership Computing Facility, 
the Sub-Angstrom Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility, the Center for 
Nanoscale Materials, and the Theory and Computational Sciences 
Building.
  He has also created an atmosphere of open communication. Notably, he 
established a two-way dialogue between employees and senior management 
by becoming the first Argonne director to answer all questions in 
regular, informal meetings with employees from across the lab.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Robert Rosner has contributed greatly to the 
Energy Department laboratory complex, my district, the State of 
Illinois and the Nation. His commitment and dedicated efforts as a 
public servant provide an inspiration to us all. I know his presence at 
Argonne will be greatly missed, but I am confident that his abundant 
energy and zeal for science will continue to do great things in the 
scientific and university communities for years to come.
  Today, I congratulate Dr. Rosner on his accomplishments at Argonne 
and wish him success in his many future endeavors.

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