On May 28, Chancellor Henry Yang and Dean Martin Moskovits (Dean of of Mathematical, Life & Physical Sciences, College of Letters and Science) held a reception in recognition of five outstanding UCSB scientists. In alphabetical order, they were:

• Joseph Connell, Professor of Ecology, Evolutionary and Marine Biology, who has been elected a "Corresponding Member" of the Australian Academy of Science, 2002 (equivalent to the U.S. National Academy of Science).
• Michael Goodchild, Professor of Geography, who has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, 2002.
• Alan Heeger, Professor of Physics, who has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, 2002.
• William Murdoch, Professor of Ecology, Evolutionary and Marine Biology, who has been elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Science, 2002.
• Joseph Polchinski, Professor of Physics, who has been elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Science, 2002.