Physicist honoured for science communication
05 Jul 2013
A Manchester scientist has been honoured for his wide-reaching work aimed at helping the general public to understand complex ideas in physics.
Professor Jeff Forshaw, in the School of Physics and Astronomy, has won the Institute of Physics Kelvin Award for outstanding contribution to the public understanding of physics.
Jeff is a leading theoretical particle physicist, who is passionate about communicating science to the public with the goal to explain science, not merely to describe it. He has been hugely successful in reaching an audience of millions.
Jeff has written two popular science books, with Professor Brian Cox as co-author, that are world-wide bestsellers: ‘Why does E=mc2? (and why should we care?)’ and ‘The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen’.
Jeff has also been the principal science consultant for several television programmes, including the BBC’s ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ and ‘Wonders of the Universe’ series. He has appeared on The One Show to talk about the theory of relativity and makes regular appearances on BBC Breakfast, the Today Programme and BBC Radio Five Live, where he is asked to explain complicated physics to the general public.
Jeff is also a columnist for The Observer newspaper and has written many articles, and been interviewed many times in the press. He has delivered high-profile public talks, including a sell-out lecture at the Royal Festival Hall, a Royal Institution Lecture and events at science and art festivals.
He also operates at the grassroots level, working with schools to enthuse the next generation of scientists, and has participated in many British Association ‘SciBar’ and Café Scientifique events around the UK. Jeff’s uncanny ability to explain complex ideas in physics in an accessible way is fuelled by a belief that there is a real appetite to actually understand things. As an outstanding theoretical physicist and gifted communicator he has enthused audiences worldwide.
Jeff said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this award from the Institute of Physics. Special thanks are due to my family and also to the staff in the physics department who have been so supportive.”
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