Remembering Joel Fajans

Professor Joel Fajans, distinguished plasma physicist, celebrated researcher, and devoted mentor at the University of California, Berkeley, passed away on November 17 at the age of 66, after a battle with cancer.  Joel was internationally renowned for his pioneering contributions to nonneutral plasma physics and antimatter research. He was locally famous for his challenging but rewarding Physics 111A Instrumentation Laboratory course, as well as for his expertise in the classical mechanics of bicycles.
 
Joel Fajans was born on March 29, 1958, in Queens, New York City, to Jack and  Eleanor Fajans. Jack was a physics professor at Stevens Institute of Technology. Joel’s early years were shaped by his experiences living with his family in Afghanistan from 1963 to 1965 and again from 1967 to 1969, where he attended the American International School in Kabul.  Returning to the United States, Joel found his calling as a scientist.  He won 6th place in the prestigious Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1976 for his project, "Graphics Station for a Data General Nova Microcomputer," an early foray into computer display technology. He graduated as valedictorian of Teaneck High School in 1976.