A pioneer of quantum optics, Emeritus Professor Sir Peter Knight FRS, has received the award of the degree Doctor of Letters honoris causa from Macquarie University today, for the central role he has played in the development of theoretical physics around the world.
Knight received the award at a morning graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Human Sciences, where he also presented an occasional address.
“Sir Peter has had a significant impact on Macquarie University, particularly in the development of photonic and quantum science over the past two decades,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor S. Bruce Dowton.
“He has visited our campus many times, lectured at our summer schools, and welcomed our higher degree research delegates to Imperial College London. He has demonstrated not only excellence in academia, but a dedication to scholarship and to his students. He is a leader in his field, a mentor to his students, and a true friend of this university.”
Sir Peter has made enormous contributions to the broader scientific community as the first non-US President of the Optical Society of America and as President of the UK’s Institute of Physics. He has served as Professor of Quantum Optics, Senior Principal and Deputy Rector (Research) at Imperial College London, and has one of the highest impact publication records of anyone in his field.
He has also played key roles supporting the UK government in the development and use of scientific research as Chief Scientist at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory and the Chairman of the UK’s Ministry of Defense Scientific Advisory Council.
Sir Peter has trained a great number researchers, including Macquarie University’s Dr Barry Sanders (no longer on staff) and Professor Jason Twamley.
In 2011 Macquarie University was announced as a node of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS), of which Sir Peter is the Chair of the EQUS Scientific Advisory Committee. The Centre is led by the University of Queensland and involves five researchers at Macquarie University.
In 2010, Sir Peter retired from Imperial College London and took up the founding Directorship of the Kavli Royal Society International Centre, Chicheley Hall just outside of London. He was also elected President of the UK’s Institute of Physics from 2012-2013, a role that brought him to Sydney in December 2012 to give a plenary address at the Australian Institute of Physics biennial Congress.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC LECTURE
Sir Peter Knight will also present a public lecture at Macquarie University on 29 April 2014: ‘Quantum Technology for a Networked World: Clocks, GPS and all That’
Knight received the award at a morning graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Human Sciences, where he also presented an occasional address.
“Sir Peter has had a significant impact on Macquarie University, particularly in the development of photonic and quantum science over the past two decades,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor S. Bruce Dowton.
“He has visited our campus many times, lectured at our summer schools, and welcomed our higher degree research delegates to Imperial College London. He has demonstrated not only excellence in academia, but a dedication to scholarship and to his students. He is a leader in his field, a mentor to his students, and a true friend of this university.”
Sir Peter has made enormous contributions to the broader scientific community as the first non-US President of the Optical Society of America and as President of the UK’s Institute of Physics. He has served as Professor of Quantum Optics, Senior Principal and Deputy Rector (Research) at Imperial College London, and has one of the highest impact publication records of anyone in his field.
He has also played key roles supporting the UK government in the development and use of scientific research as Chief Scientist at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory and the Chairman of the UK’s Ministry of Defense Scientific Advisory Council.
Sir Peter has trained a great number researchers, including Macquarie University’s Dr Barry Sanders (no longer on staff) and Professor Jason Twamley.
In 2011 Macquarie University was announced as a node of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS), of which Sir Peter is the Chair of the EQUS Scientific Advisory Committee. The Centre is led by the University of Queensland and involves five researchers at Macquarie University.
In 2010, Sir Peter retired from Imperial College London and took up the founding Directorship of the Kavli Royal Society International Centre, Chicheley Hall just outside of London. He was also elected President of the UK’s Institute of Physics from 2012-2013, a role that brought him to Sydney in December 2012 to give a plenary address at the Australian Institute of Physics biennial Congress.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC LECTURE
Sir Peter Knight will also present a public lecture at Macquarie University on 29 April 2014: ‘Quantum Technology for a Networked World: Clocks, GPS and all That’
