Celebrating leadership, innovation, and impact

We’re proud to highlight Andrea Alù, Co-PI of the NewFoS project, for his recognition as an award winner in National Security, Space, and Defense. This award was presented at the CUNY-wide research celebration hosted at the CUNY Graduate Center—a well-deserved recognition of his impactful work in photonics and advanced wave engineering.

As a Distinguished Professor and founding director of the Photonics Initiative at the CUNY Graduate Center, Andrea leads groundbreaking work in photonics and metamaterials—fields that are shaping the future of communication, sensing, and advanced technologies. 

Within NewFoS, his research pushes the boundaries of topological acoustic systems, exploring new ways to control waves with robustness and precision—advancing applications that connect directly to real-world challenges in defense, energy, and beyond. 

This recognition reflects not only scientific excellence, but also the power of collaboration across institutions and disciplines.

👏 Congratulations on this outstanding achievement and continued leadership in NewFoS!

📸: Mark Hauber