Joseph Incandela, professor of physics at UC Santa Barbara and the scientist who announced to the world the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson particle, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Incandela was one of 84 new members chosen for membership in the prestigious NAS.

Chosen for membership in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, Incandela was honored for his contributions to particle physics, especially the discovery of the Higgs boson at the European Organization for Nuclear Research's (CERN) Large Hadron Collider.

"It is difficult to adequately express how much it means to me, or any scientist, to be recognized by the National Academy," said Incandela, the Yzurdiaga Chair in Experimental Science. "The academy has the greatest concentration of top scientists in the world. I am overwhelmed, very happy and deeply honored."