UofG congratulates Nobel Prize Winners for gravitational wave research

Gravitational wave physicists at the University of Glasgow are celebrating the announcement of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. The Nobel Committee announced in Stockholm today (Tuesday 3 October) that the €950,000 prize will be presented to Rainer Weiss (MIT), Barry C. Barish (Caltech) and Kip S.Thorne (Caltech) for their achievements in gravitational wave research. Each of them played a key role in the historic first direct detection of gravitational waves in September 2015, which established the new field of gravitational wave astronomy. Both Professor Thorne and Professor Barish are recipients of honorary degrees from the University of Glasgow. Professor Thorne received his honorary degree in 2001, and Professor Barish was presented with his in 2013. Researchers from the University of Glasgow's Institute for Gravitational Research (IGR) are part of the international LIGO Scientific collaboration, and with their colleagues around the globe have made significant contributions to the research initiated by the three new Nobel laureates. Professor Sheila Rowan, director of the Institute for Gravitational Research, said: "The first direct detection of gravitational waves two years ago were built on decades of work by thousands of scientists around the world, but I'm thrilled that the Nobel Committee has recognised Rai, Barry and Kip's pioneering work.