UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau will receive an award for exceptional leadership in the scientific community, the American Institute of Physics announced Thursday.

The Karl Taylor Compton Medal for Leadership in Physics, which was established in 1957, is awarded to individuals not just for their contributions to the field of physics but also for their “outstanding statesmanship in science,” according to the American Institute of Physics website.

Birgeneau will receive the award at the March meeting of the American Physical Society in Baltimore, as well as a check for $10,000.

“Dr. Birgeneau is very highly regarded among his peers and the broader public for the contributions he has made to scientific investigation, and for his commitment to diversity and equity in the academic community,” said AIP Executive Director and CEO H. Frederick Dylla in a press release. “He is most deserving of this recognition.”

Birgeneau was noted for his leadership in drawing more women to the sciences and eliminating obstacles for females looking to enter these fields. Additionally, he was cited for making UC Berkeley  “a leader in fostering a family-friendly workplace for faculty, students and staff,” according to the press release.