Arthur Bertram Cuthbert Walker Jr. (August 24, 1936 – April 29, 2001) was an American solar physicist and a pioneer of EUV/XUV optics.
[6] Much of his career involved using rocket technology and satellites to study the Sun's atmosphere at the ultraviolet and X-ray levels.
[7] Walker also set up an informal advocacy association with other black faculty members called the "Banneker Group".
[2] He was instrumental in building Congressional approval for the National Solar Observatory, and served on the Rogers Commission which investigated the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.
[4] After coming to Stanford, Walker began working with Troy Barbee of the school's Material Sciences Department to observe the Sun's corona.
[3] Walker believed that Barbee's multilayered thin films would provide improved images for a X-ray telescope.
[5] This new technology was the basis of the dark matter detection method advanced by Professor Blas Cabrera of Stanford's physics department.
Walker II Award "established to honor an outstanding scientist whose research and educational efforts substantially contributes to astronomy and who has (1) demonstrated a substantial commitment to mentoring students from underrepresented groups pursuing degrees in astronomy and/or (2) been instrumental in creating or supporting innovative and successful STEM programs designed to support underrepresented students or their teachers"; included is a scholarship to a student of the recipient's choice.