Donna Strickland, Winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, to Receive Honorary INRS Doctorate

INRS recognizes Professor Strickland's outstanding contribution to laser science and gratefully acknowledges her ongoing research collaboration.

MONTREAL, May 2, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - An exciting tribute is planned for Donna Strickland, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, on May 4 in Boucherville. During the annual convocation ceremony, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) CEO Luc-Alain Giraldeau will present an honorary doctorate to the Canadian physicist, a pioneer in the field of lasers and the third woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Donna Strickland developed the chirped pulse amplification technique with French physicist Gérard Mourou in the early 1980s. Their innovation makes it possible to generate ultra-short, high-intensity laser pulses with applications in eye surgery, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, the environment, cellular imaging, and micromechanics, not to mention huge potential in basic research.

Right from the start, Dr. Strickland and Dr. Mourou worked closely with other dedicated scientists, including INRS professors Henri Pépin, Jean-Claude Kieffer, and Mohamed Chaker. Their close collaboration led to the development of laser facilities and a research program at the INRS Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications in Varennes.

Professor Strickland has taught at the University of Waterloo since 1997 and has over 90 publications to her name. She has made a vital contribution to laser technology and the advancement of physics.

"Her perseverance, her involvement in various organizations, and her steadfast determination to contribute to society through innovation make her an accomplished scientist, an outstanding collaborator, and a truly remarkable woman," said Luc-Alain Giraldeau. "Donna Strickland inspires all our graduates and an entire generation of young women and scientists. She is worthy of the highest distinctions."

About INRS
Institut national de la recherche scientifique is the only academic institution in Quebec devoted exclusively to graduate-level research and training. For 2018–2019, 160 INRS students will graduate from programs centred on an interdisciplinary approach to some of Quebec's most pressing issues. The influence of our faculty and students extends around the world. In partnership with the community and with industry, we are proud to contribute to the development of society through our discoveries and through the training we provide to a new generation of scientific, social, and technological innovators.

SOURCE Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)

For further information: Geneviève Chacon, Director, Communications and Government Relations, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Tel.: [phone], Email: [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.inrs.ca/