The Galileo Circle is a community of engaged individuals whose support is vital to the continued excellence of the College of Science at the University of Arizona.
As a member, you are supporting established and budding scientists as well as groundbreaking research by distinguished faculty. Nurture the future of science today!
Your Galileo Circle Membership Supports:
Galileo Circle Student Scholarships
The Galileo Circle awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate exceptional potential in the physical, mathematical, environmental, cognitive, or life sciences.
Your gift goes a long way towards assuring these young scientists will be at the forefront of changing and bettering our world. For every $1,000 scholarship you support, we will match you with a student and provide you with an opportunity to meet them at our Galileo Circle Scholars Celebration dinner held annually in the fall.
Over the last 18 years, 2,082 students have been impacted with more than $2.1 million in Galileo Circle scholarship funds. In the 2024-2025 year, the Galileo Circle will support 150 outstanding College of Science students with over $200,000 in funds.
Galileo Circle Faculty & Staff Awards
The College of Science annually recognizes 5-7 Galileo Circle Award recipients. These special awards recognize some of the college's most exceptional faculty and staff and are one of the highest honors the College can bestow.
There are four award categories highlighting the recipients' contributions to teaching, research, mentoring, outreach, and overall excellence: Galileo Circle Fellows, the Curie Award, the Copernicus Award, and the Postdoc Award.
The Galileo Circle Awards are made possible by the generosity of our Galileo Circle members and have supported 95 College of Science faculty/staff with over $480,000 in funds. These awards are celebrated at the Galileo Circle Awards Dinner held annually in the Spring.
Membership Options:
Your gift enhances the Galileo Circle Fund for Excellence and helps support faculty awards. All memberships are paid annually and allow two people to participate in member benefits.
The first $1,000 of your gift will go towards a Galileo Circle membership, which enhances the Galileo Circle Fund for Excellence and helps support faculty awards. All memberships are paid annually and allow two people to participate in member benefits. You become a Patron by providing additional funding in increments of $1,000 to support student scholarships. You are able to indicate a College of Science department preference within your payment notes.
Often given in the form of an endowment, your gift provides a continuous stream of annual support for Galileo Circle Scholars and Fellows. A gift of $1,000,000+ to any College of Science Fund or a $100,000+ planned gift to the Galileo Circle also qualifies for Lifetime Membership.
A gift of $5,000 or more to any department within the College of Science provides you with a complimentary one-year Galileo Circle Membership.
Membership Benefits:
In order to create and maintain a meaningful connection to the College of Science, all Galileo Circle members receive exclusive invitations to special engagement opportunities including College of Science lectures, seminars, and special events. We have three signature Galileo Circle events:
Galileo Circle Scholars Celebration
This event honors our outstanding students that have been selected by their department as Galileo Circle Scholars.
It’s an opportunity for scholars to meet and engage with the Galileo Circle members and patrons who make these awards possible.
Includes a student poster session, drinks, dinner, remarks from Dean Carmie Garzione, and special student presentations.
College of Science Lecture Series Opening Night Reception
Held backstage at Centennial Hall, this exclusive event provides a unique opportunity to interact with the four renowned University of Arizona faculty speakers of the series, College of Science Leadership and Department Heads, University of Arizona Leadership, and Lecture Series sponsors before the commencement of the 2025 Lecture Series. Includes heavy appetizers, drinks, remarks from Dean Carmie Garzione, and reserved seating in Centennial Hall.
Galileo Circle Awards Dinner
This signature event celebrates exceptional faculty and staff whose outstanding contributions to academia are supported through the generous funding of Galileo Circle members.
This evening offers a special opportunity for Galileo Circle members to come together and honor the extraordinary individuals we recognize as the epitome of excellence in the College of Science.
Includes cocktail hour, dinner, and awards program.
Questions about the Galileo Circle?
Kasey Barghout
Assistant Director, Donor Stewardship & Alumni Engagement
College of Science
kaseybarghout@arizona.edu
(520) 621-7187
