U of Ottawa scientist wins Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal

Dr. Paul Corkum, an attosecond science researcher at the National Research Council (NRC) and professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Ottawa, has won the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, which includes $1 million in research funding.

He’s the second NRC researcher and third University of Ottawa professor to receive the honour since its inception in 1991.

“NRC is incredibly proud of Dr. Corkum’s accomplishments in the field of attosecond science,” said NRC president Pierre Coulombe. “The collaborative relationship between NRC and the University of Ottawa provides a shining example of a partnership that leverages Canada’s public research base to inspire Canadian researchers to perform at world-class levels of excellence and maximize our competitive advantage.”

Corkum’s selection stems from his innovative research in the cutting-edge field of attosecond science. The ultimate goal of his work is to control the movement of electrons as they speed along inside molecules, which promises breakthrough applications in fields ranging from quantum computing to diagnostic medicine.

His work as an experimental physicist has already garnered several honours and prizes, including the Order of Canada, a Killam Prize and an NSERC Polanyi Award for outstanding achievement in the field of natural sciences.

The NSERC Herzberg Medal is awarded annually to an individual who has demonstrated sustained excellence and influence in research for a body of work conducted in Canada, having led to significant advances in the natural sciences or engineering.
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