As a part of the 2020 Arts and Sciences Scholarship Exhibition, students and faculty in the Department of Physics told the story of Bunny Clark, a faculty member in the department from 1981 until her retirement in 2007. Clark made significant contributions to her field of nuclear theoretical physics, headed countless committees on science and physics and was a pioneer for women and other underrepresented populations in science. Clark passed away in October 2015 at the age of 80. Outside of her groundbreaking work and research throughout her long career, Clark’s main passion was mentoring students and faculty in all stages of their education and careers — whether aiding financially or providing one-on-one mentorship, Clark never turned down the opportunity to help others.

“Physics was not supposed to be women's work, however, I figured that intelligence was not linked to the Y chromosome.”
— Bunny Clark, 2001 Ohio State commencement address

Dr. Michael Poirier, current chair of the Department of Physics, recounts how Clark's leadership during her tenure still resonates with the department today. Graduate students Natalie Harrison and Dennis Calderon-Madera share how the Bunny and Thomas Clark Scholarship Endowment Fund (established by Clark and her husband) and the Bunny C. Clark Student Support Fund (established in Clark’s memory by her colleague and friend Robert Mercer and the Mercer Family Foundation) supports their coursework and research, as well as freeing up time to mentor other students and develop close research relationships with faculty members.

Bunny Clark’s legacy lives on through these two existing scholarships in her name, and through her countless contributions to the field of physics.

Watch here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxywDoXTMjk&feature=youtu.be