#USA #Washington #Fermi-GBM #Cocconi Prize #Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Fermi-GBM Collaboration Receives the Cocconi Prize

The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) Collaboration, featuring notable contributions from the Universities Space Research Association's Science and Technology Institute, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Giuseppe and Vanna Cocconi Prize by the European Physical Society (EPS). This accolade celebrates the team’s pioneering contributions to multimessenger astrophysics, particularly their work in gamma-ray astronomy.

The award recognizes the Fermi-GBM team's major role in advancing the understanding of transient gamma-ray phenomena. The EPS highlighted the collaboration's significant achievements in cataloging gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and understanding their physics. Since its launch, the Fermi-GBM has detected over 3,000 GRBs, paving the way for significant discoveries related to both short- and long-duration bursts, fundamentally enhancing our comprehension of these cosmic explosions.

A key milestone in this journey was achieved in 2017 with the detection of the electromagnetic counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW170817. This historic event was pivotal, as it provided the first evidence that neutron star mergers could generate short GRBs, thereby establishing a new frontier in multimessenger astrophysics that bridges gravitational wave observations with gamma-ray data.

Dr. Elsayed Talaat, the President and CEO of the Universities Space Research Association, expressed pride in the recognition, stating, "This award serves as a powerful testament to the impact of collaborative science. The achievements of the Fermi-GBM team not only represent a technological victory but also a transformative shift in our observational capabilities and our understanding of the universe as a whole."

The Cocconi Prize is the highest distinction awarded by the EPS in the realm of astroparticle physics, sharing a level of prestige with the Rossi Prize from the American Astronomical Society. Additionally, the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) Collaboration also received the award, acknowledged for its groundbreaking achievements in gamma-ray astronomy, including the first detection of an electromagnetic counterpart to a high-energy neutrino from the blazar TXS 0506+056.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the European Physical Society Conference on High Energy Physics (EPS-HEP 2025), happening from July 7 to 11 in Marseille, France. During this ceremony, USRA astrophysicist Dr. Adam Goldstein will accept the award on behalf of the collaboration at the historic Palais du Pharo.

The collaborative success of the Fermi mission, comprising both the GBM and LAT teams, underscores the dedication of scientists and engineers worldwide. Their cooperative efforts in instrument development, operations, and data analysis have significantly transformed our understanding of the high-energy universe, offering insights that were previously unattainable.

USRA has been committed to advancing space-related sciences since its inception in 1969, supported by federal funding. Operating scientific institutes and facilities, USRA engages with the university community, spearheading innovative research and development projects which enhance our understanding of space and technology in profound ways.

For more information on USRA and its initiatives, visit www.usra.edu.