New phase for Higgs Centre
Following Professor Peter Higgs’ Nobel award, the University is to further develop its expertise in theoretical physics.
Support from the Scottish Government will help create a dedicated home for the recently established Higgs Centre.
The Centre was created last year in Professor Higgs’ name, following discovery of the Higgs boson, the particle that was first posited by the Professor in the early 1960s.
Its researchers will create an environment in which scientists and industry players from around the world can share and develop ideas.
They will look to apply novel mathematics and computation to tackle some of the 21st century’s great challenges.
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The University of Edinburgh's Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, talked about how the Scottish and Westminster Governments will support the project.
Inspiring minds
Mike Russell, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, has shown a huge commitment to the University and its research and has offered warm congratulations to Professor Higgs and the University, not just on the Nobel Prize, but on these plans to create a lasting legacy from the prize.
The Centre will nurture new generations of leading physicists, whose ideas will transform fundamental physics and speed the translation of theoretical insights for commercial benefit.
In this second phase of its development, a new building will be created to house the Centre.
This will be adjacent to the School of Physics and Astronomy’s base at the University’s science campus, King’s Buildings, from where the Higgs Centre currently operates.
The Nobel Prize awarded to Peter Higgs earlier this week is a further reflection of the excellent research at Edinburgh and I have invited the University to bid to the Science & Technology Facilities Council for support for the Higgs Centre.
Mike Russell asked his officials to start discussion with the University about the way in which the Scottish Government’s contribution can be most effectively utilised, to allow a new generation to be supported in their world quality research and discoveries.