College of Science announces 2026 Galileo Circle Awards
The College of Science is proud to announce its 2026 Galileo Circle Awards recipients. These awards honor some of the college’s most exceptional faculty and staff, recognizing excellence in teaching, research, mentoring, outreach and service. The awards are made possible through the generosity of Galileo Circle members, whose support plays a vital role in sustaining innovation and opportunity across the college.
The Galileo Circle Awards Dinner, hosted April 16, serves not only as a recognition of outstanding faculty and staff, but also as a reflection of the shared commitment between donors, educators and researchers to support student success and groundbreaking work in the sciences. This year’s awardees and fellows are:
2026 Rieke Prize
Dr. Dennis Zaritsky
Deputy Director | Steward Observatory; Regents Professor | Astronomy
Dr. Dennis Zaritsky obtained his B.S. in Physics with Honor from Caltech and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. A scholar of extraordinary breadth and originality, Dr. Zaritsky has reshaped our understanding of galaxies, dark matter, and cosmic evolution. His pioneering work on satellite galaxies revealed that spiral galaxies like our own are embedded in massive dark matter halos. He is equally renowned for his magnum opus on the Magellanic Clouds, where he and his team produced the first global, spatially resolved reconstructions of star formation histories in two entire galaxies. His innovative instrumentation and open data practices enabled a generation of discoveries. A prolific researcher with over 300 refereed publications, Dr. Zaritsky has also mentored dozens of students and postdocs, many now leaders in academia and industry. As chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope Science Advisory Council, he has shaped national priorities in astronomy. Dr. Zaritsky’s groundbreaking research has earned numerous honors throughout his career, including the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy, a Guggenheim Fellowship, Galileo Circle Fellow Award, and election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Most recently, he received the Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize recognizing his influential contributions to the study of galaxy formation and evolution.
To learn more about the Galileo Circle, click here.
2026 Galileo Circle Fellow
Dr. Vicente Talanquer
Distinguished Professor | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dr. Vicente Talanquer joined the University of Arizona in 2000 after working at Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM), where he carried out physical chemistry research and played a significant role in teacher education. Since arriving at the U of A, he has established one of the world’s most respected research programs in chemistry education. His more than 170 publications examine student reasoning, conceptual challenges in chemistry, and the impact of innovative instructional approaches. His research is highly influential and widely cited, including by the U.S. National Research Council. Dr. Talanquer created the Chemical Thinking approach, an innovative curriculum that emphasizes chemistry as a way of reasoning about real-world health, environmental, and sustainability issues, leading to improved student learning and reduced achievement gaps for underrepresented students. Dr. Talanquer has earned numerous national and international teaching and education research awards, including major honors from the Royal Society of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, and Council of Scientific Society Presidents. He was also named Arizona Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Dr. Talanquer is a recognized leader in the international science education community and has served in editorial roles for multiple journals worldwide.
2026 Galileo Circle Copernicus Awardee
Lisa Arrotta
Executive Assistant | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Lisa Arrotta is a proud Tucson native and lifelong University of Arizona supporter whose career reflects exceptional service to the mission and operations of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (CBC). Lisa plays a critical role in supporting departmental leadership, faculty affairs, and complex administrative operations that directly enable teaching, research, and student success. She is the lynch pin that holds the CBC staff and operations together by managing front office staff, coordinating high-level academic and personnel processes, and supporting multiple committees and leadership initiatives. Renowned for her ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, Lisa brings outstanding organizational, administrative, and decision-making skills that ensure continuity, and efficiency across departmental functions. Leveraging over 15 years of professional experience in executive support, media, communications, and public engagement, Lisa has successfully modernized CBC’s outreach, marketing, and event programming, resulting in increased engagement, fundraising success, and stronger community connections. A detail-oriented strategist with a tireless work ethic, Lisa is recognized for improving operational efficiency, readily assuming responsibilities as needed, embracing new technologies, and contributing meaningfully to the university’s broader mission of service, engagement, and impact.
2026 Galileo Circle Copernicus Awardee
Dr. Martha P.L. Whitaker
Associate Professor of Practice | Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
Dr. Martha P.L. Whitaker has served as an exceptional undergraduate faculty advisor and instructor since 2008. She holds a Ph.D. in Hydrology & Water Resources from the University of Arizona and a B.S. in Geological Sciences from Michigan State University. Dr. Whitaker is recognized for her innovative, student-centered approach to education. She developed and leads two Vertically-Integrated Projects (VIPs) which engage undergraduate and graduate students in collaborative, cross-disciplinary research. Dr. Whitaker also developed a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) module for a required lecture course, transforming her students’ experience to include an authentic research project with real-world data analysis. Her Careers in Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences course is unique among U of A offerings and features a videobank of interviews with more than 130 hydrology and atmospheric sciences professionals. Dr. Whitaker's leadership extends nationally and internationally. She has co-convened sessions on undergraduate research at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting and has consulted with Kansas State University faculty on water science VIP development. Dr. Whitaker has earned multiple university and national honors, including the 2010 National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Outstanding New Faculty Advisor Award.
2026 Galileo Circle Curie Awardee
Dr. Bo Guo
Associate Professor | Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
Dr. Bo Guo received his Ph.D. from Princeton University and B.S. from Tsinghua University and completed a two-year postdoc at Stanford University before joining the University of Arizona. He is a computational hydrologist focusing on advancing fundamental understanding and prediction of fluid flow and transport in the earth’s subsurface, with applications to contaminant remediation, energy resources, and critical zone science. Dr. Guo has developed PFAS-LEACH, the first decision-support platform for simulating PFAS leaching in source zones, now widely used by practitioners and regulators worldwide. He has led or co-led 16 externally funded research projects since 2018. Among other recognitions, he received NSF CAREER Award (2023) and the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers (2024). Dr. Guo serves as Editor of Hydrology and Earth System Sciences and Associate Editor of Water Resources Research and Advances in Water Resources. In 2024, he chaired the 25th Computational Methods in Water Resources (CMWR) Conference at the University of Arizona, which brought together more than 230 participants from 26 countries.
2026 Galileo Circle Curie Awardee
Dr. Ewan Douglas
Associate Professor | Astronomy and Steward Observatory
Dr. Ewan Douglas earned a B.S. in Physics from Tufts University, a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Boston University, and completed a postdoctoral appointment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Dr. Douglas joined the University of Arizona Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory in 2019. He leads the UA Space Astrophysics Lab (UASAL), and his research focuses on space instrumentation, wavefront sensing and control, and high-contrast imaging of extrasolar planets and debris disks around nearby stars. He is recognized for developing technologies for space-based telescopes and creating a multi-department effort to involve students in developing instrumentation for future space observatories. He is leading the development of two major instruments – an exoplanet imaging coronagraph and a wide-filed camera - being built for a space telescope to be launched in 2028. Dr. Douglas is also an outstanding instructor and mentor of undergraduate and graduate students and serves as a key faculty mentor in the TIMESTEP (Tucson Initiative for Minoritized student Engagement in Science) summer internship program and Astronomy Camp.
2026 Galileo Circle Postdoc Awardee
Dr. Navin McGinnis
Postdoctoral Research Associate | Department of Physics
Dr. Navin McGinnis received his Ph.D. in Physics from Indiana University, where he studied theoretical physics. Before joining the University of Arizona, he held a postdoctoral position at TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator centre, contributing to foundational research in particle physics. His current research explores a fundamental question: Are the laws of particle physics shaped by the principles of information? Working at the interface of theoretical physics and quantum information science, Dr. McGinnis investigates whether features of the universe, such as symmetry and the structure of physical interactions, can emerge from principles of information theory. Dr. McGinnis is deeply committed to mentorship, teaching, and public engagement. He is dedicated to training the next generation of particle physicists, recently leading an undergraduate research seminar at UA in which students performed their own analysis of real data, retracing how one of physics’ landmark discoveries, the Higgs boson, was accomplished, equipping them with the tools and perspective to drive future discoveries. Dr. McGinnis regularly contributes to outreach and public discussions, reflecting his belief that fundamental science should inspire curiosity far beyond the research community.
To learn more about the Galileo Circle, click here.