The Feingold prize was established in 2000 to honor outstanding performance in the Department's various "non-Astronomy major" courses. The specific text of the prize is:
The study of the Universe has traditionally had tremendous appeal
to non-specialists. Undergraduates at Stony Brook demonstrate this
interest every year by the very large enrollments in the lower division
astronomy courses for the non-specialists, AST 101, "Introduction to
Astronomy", AST 105, "Introduction to the Solar System", and AST 248,
"The Search for Life in the Universe". While majors in the physical
sciences are recognized for excellence through the conferring of a
variety of departmental and college prizes, no such opportunity has
been available for the non-specialist who excels in the science course
taken for general interest. To acknowledge the importance of outreach
in science and to recognize the importance of the non-scientists in our
curriculum, the Department of Physics and Astronomy has established the
A.M. Feingold Prize in Astronomy. The prize, which consists of a book
and a certificate, will be awarded each term to the students of high
achievement and outstanding potential in each of the three courses, AST
101, 105, and 248. All registered students are eligible, but the emphasis
will be to recognize those in the non-technical disciplines.
The Feingold Prize for AST 248 this semester will be awarded at the last class meeting. Eligibility will be based on grades and class standing up to that point (excluding the final exam).