Joel L. Lebowitz was awarded the Delmer S. Fahrney Medal "for his dynamic leadership which has advanced the field of statistical mathematics, and for his inspiring humanitarian efforts on behalf of oppressed scientists throughout the world."
A prolific researcher in equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, Dr. Lebowitz, with Elliot Lieb, proved the existence of the thermodynamic limit for Coulomb systems in 1970. In recent years, he has contributed to the understanding of nonequilibrium systems.
Dr. Lebowitz has been the co-chair of the Committee of Concerned Scientists since 1981, an organization which works on behalf of the human rights of scientists worldwide.
Dr. Lebowitz, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, is also a tireless organizer and editor in statistical mechanics. For over thirty-five years, his famous informal conferences on statistical mechanics, known as the "Lebowitz Meetings," have attracted top international experts and have been invaluable to young people. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Statistical Physics.
Information as of 1995