TU Delft nanophysics professor Leo Kouwenhoven was elected as a foreign member to the National Academy of Sciences in the US.
Established in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit society of acclaimed scholars, which provides objective and independent advice to the US on matters concerning science and technology. For their outstanding contributions to research, scientists are elected to the society by their peers via an extensive nomination and selection procedure. Nearly 500 members of the academy have been awarded the Nobel Prize.
In recognition of his distinguished and continuing achievements in scientific research, Kouwenhoven is the first TU Delft professor to be elected to the prestigious scientific academy. Together with his research team, Kouwenhoven is credited with the recent discovery of the Majorana fermion –a quasiparticle that forms a potential building block of the quantum computer. As Director of Research for the newly established QuTech Institute, he is tasked with bringing together the scientific community and the Dutch high-tech industry to collaborate on the quantum computer’s further development.
“It is a big honor and it also feels like a big honor,” Kouwenhoven says. “To be recognized in the US really means a lot since I have many collaborative projects with many Americans. I’m positively surprised that they take my work seriously.” Despite his appreciation, Kouwenhoven is somewhat in doubt whether he should be the first TU Delft professor to be elected to the NAS. “To be the first was quite a disappointment given the fact that there are so many great professors at the TU Delft,” Kouwenhoven admits. “I guess that in some sense I will represent them in this Academy.”
Of the 450 foreign members, there are currently ten Dutch scientists who have been elected to the society. These members include astronomer Ewine van Dishoeck, biochemist and cancer researcher Piet Borst and physicists Martinus Veltman and Gerard ’t Hooft. Together with Kouwenhoven, stem-cell biologist and president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Hans Clever was also elected as an NAS member.
“It is certainly useful to become part of this network and be involved in discussions on new trends and opportunities,” Kouwenhoven says. “I can imagine that it will help to anticipate on new trends, definitely not only for my own research but for research in a broad sense.” Kouwenhoven’s lifetime membership is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive.
Comments are closed.