Leading physicist praises the University research in metrology
Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:15:00 BST
Government adviser and leading physicist Professor Sir Peter Knight chaired the advisory board of the University’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology
THE United Nations has declared 2015 to be the International Year of Light, and the University of Huddersfield is playing a shining role, according to one of the UK’s leading physicists.
Sir Peter Knight has received an Honorary Doctorate of the University, an honour conferred during one of the 31 ceremonies taking place during graduation week.
Sir Peter has chaired the advisory board of the University’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology. It was “one of the stellar research institutions of this university”, he said during his acceptance speech.
He praised the Centre’s research in the use of light technology in precision manufacturing. It had the potential “to change the way that we manufacture,” said Sir Peter.
He added that 2015 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Light. The aim is to harness the science and technology of light to make breakthroughs in fields that include medicine, energy, communications and agriculture.
And Sir Peter reminded the audience that the UK Patron for the International Year of Light is His Royal Highness The Duke of York – newly installed as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.
Sir Peter’s Honorary Doctorate, which he received for “outstanding for services to the world of physics, both on a national and an international level”, was conferred by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Bob Cryan. This was preceded by an oration from Professor Bob Cywinski, who hailed Sir Peter as one of the UK’s most distinguished physicists. “His research had helped to bring about a revolution in ultra-fast computation and Sir Peter was the most frequently cited atomic and optical theorist in the world,” said Professor Cywinski.
Sir Peter had also put a great deal back into society, said Professor Cywinski, with a large number of advisory roles, including his association with Huddersfield’s EPSRC Centre, for which the University was deeply grateful.
