Nov 18 2013
Perimeter Institute has established, thanks to a visionary investment in partnership with the Krembil Foundation, prestigious research chairs for two of the world's top theoretical physicists.
A $4 million investment made by the Krembil Foundation – matched by $4 million from Perimeter Institute – will support the two Chairs. Each Chair is named for a pioneer in theoretical physics:
- The Krembil Foundation Galileo Galilei Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute
- The Krembil Foundation William Rowan Hamilton Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute
Known for its leadership support of medical research, education, and social services projects, the Krembil Foundation also believes that investments in frontier science at Perimeter will help to build a more knowledgeable and prosperous future for all.
“We see this as a smart investment in something that will be profoundly advantageous to all Canadians and the world – not just an economic investment, but an intellectual, educational, and cultural one as well,” said Mark Krembil, President of the Foundation.
“Perimeter is an exceptional institute, and these two new Chairs will enable some of the brightest young theoretical physicists in the world to maximize their research. So it’s very exciting for our Foundation to be part of such an innovative Chairs program and support the kind of deep thinking and discovery it makes possible.”
Perimeter Institute Director Neil Turok said, “We are extremely grateful to the Krembil Foundation for this investment in Perimeter and the future of theoretical physics. Their contribution is a major boost to our unique public-private partnership supporting breakthrough research.”
Perimeter has recruited a pair of exceptional young scientists as the inaugural chairholders:
Kevin Costello, one of the world’s top young mathematicians, is moving from Chicago’s Northwestern University to take up The Krembil Foundation William Rowan Hamilton Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute.
“What’s unique about Kevin Costello is that he’s a great mathematician who goes much more deeply into the physics than other outstanding mathematicians in similar areas do,” said Edward Witten, a Fields Medal recipient based at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study. “There’s every prospect that bringing Kevin to Perimeter will add a strong new dimension that brings an outstanding mathematics effort into synergy with the physics research.”
Davide Gaiotto, one of the world's top young mathematical physicists, was recruited from Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study. He will hold The Krembil Foundation Galileo Galilei Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute. Gaiotto’s conceptual advances in our understanding of quantum fields earned him the $100,000 New Horizons in Physics Prize in 2013 and are “opening the way to more powerful mathematical descriptions of particles and forces in the universe,” said Perimeter Director Neil Turok.
“Kevin Costello and Davide Gaiotto are brilliant young theorists who are discovering new ways of formulating our most fundamental description of reality,” added Turok. “To have them appointed as the inaugural Hamilton and Galileo Chairs is a real coup. We expect a very strong research effort in mathematical physics to develop around them, generating exciting and important new developments in the field.”