Millie Dresselhaus, widely considered the grande dame of physics in America, visited Clemson for a series of public and classroom lectures.

"Her visit gave students an opportunity to talk with one of the nation's scientific giants," said Peter Barnes, chair of Clemson's physics and astronomy department.

An outspoken advocate of women in science and engineering, Dresselhaus is the former head of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. She is currently a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dresselhaus received the National Medal of Science for work in establishing a place for women in science and technology and for studies of the electronic properties of metals and semi-metals. She holds 17 honorary degrees and is the former president of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society.