U of S Physicist Elected to Prestigious Royal Society of Canada
Posted July 25, 2000
Tweet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? July 24, 2000 2000-07-11-OTHER
U of S Physicist Elected to Prestigious
Royal Society of Canada
University of Saskatchewan physicist Akira Hirose has been elected a Fellow
of the Royal Society of Canada, the country?s senior academic accolade to
which scholars and scientists aspire.
Hirose, head of the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, was
recently elected to the Academy of Science (Mathematical and Physical
Sciences) Fellowship. He is the 16th U of S professor to be honored in this
way and one of 61 new Fellows elected this year across Canada.
"Prof. Hirose has gained international recognition for his prolific
contributions to achieving controlled thermonuclear fusion," said
Vice-President Research Michael Corcoran.
"The fact that he is the third U of S physicist to be elected to this senior
body of distinguished scientists is a testament to the excellent work being
carried out by the U of S department of physics and engineering physics."
Controlled thermonuclear fusion research aims to fulfil the dream of
harnessing fusion energy to provide a new source of electricity, one that
would not produce nuclear waste or radiation hazards and would be a
practically unlimited energy supply.
The Sun?s tremendous energy is produced through nuclear fusion or the
joining of hydrogen atoms. Scientists such as Prof. Hirose are studying how
to harness fusion as an energy source which involves getting energetic
nuclear particles hot enough to fuse and confining them long enough so that
they do fuse.
To do this, Prof. Hirose uses a tokamak, a research machine in which a
magnetic field is used to confine plasma, an extremely hot gas that has all
its electrons stripped off its atoms. Hirose is one of Canada?s leading
researchers in plasma physics. His theoretical and experimental work with
plasma stability, heating and confinement has led to breakthroughs in
international plasma research.
Hirose designed and built the STOR-M (Saskatchewan Torus-Modified) tokamak,
a large plasma confinement system, on the U of S grounds. In 1987, this was
the site of the world?s first demonstration of alternating current in a
tokomak. Household current in North America is alternating current.
Hirose?s work could mean that controlled fusion energy could one day replace
existing power plants and reduce the use of fossil fuels. Fusion energy
would be an abundant fuel supply because hydrogen isotopes could easily be
obtained from the ocean in large supply.
Hirose, who received a U of S Distinguished Researcher Award in 1995, has
published one book and more than 200 papers in refereed physics journals.
Other awards include Fellow of the American Physical Society (1981), Fellow
of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (1986),
Merit Award from the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society (IEEE-NPSS)
(1993), and the IEEE-NPSS Plasma Science and Applications Award in 1998.
He holds a B.Sc. (1965) and M.Sc. (1967) from Yokohama National University,
Japan, a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee (1969) and a Doctor of
Science from the U of S (1994).
He will be inducted to the Society at a ceremony in Ottawa on Friday,
November 17.
Formed 118 years ago, the Royal Society is a force for the enrichment,
interpretation and strengthening of Canada?s intellectual heritage. Its
mandate is to promote and develop learning and research in the arts and
sciences in Canada.
To become a Fellow, a researcher must be nominated by three persons, two of
whom must be current Fellows. The dossier prepared on the nominee?s
published and academic work is then evaluated by a peer committee of Fellows
from the Academy or Division that chose the nominee. The nominations are
then voted on.
Other University of Saskatchewan faculty members with Royal Society of
Canada Fellowships are:
- Lorne Babiuk, Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, 1999
- Michael Bancroft, Canadian Light Source, 1979
- Roy Billinton, College of Engineering, 1980
- Alan Boulton, College of Medicine Neuropsychiatry Research Unit, 1993
- Louis Jaques, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine (deceased),
1952
- Leon Katz, Department of Physics, College of Arts and Science, 1952
- Robert Kerrich, Department of Geological Sciences, College of Art and
Science, 1992
- Walter Kupsch, Professor Emeritus, Geological Sciences, 1963
- Ted Llewellyn, Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies, 1994
- James Miller, Department of History, College of Arts and Science, 1998
- Peter Nikiforuk, College of Engineering, 1995
- William Sarjeant, Department of Geological Sciences, College of Arts and
Science, 1995
- David Smith, Department of Political Studies, College of Arts and
Science, 1981
- Taylor Steeves, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science, 1971
- Curt Wittlin, Department of Languages and Linguistics, College of Arts and
Science, 1988
For more information, contact:
Akira Hirose
Professor/Head
Department of Physics and Engineering Physics
(306) 966-6414
(306) 996-6400
hirose@sask.usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506 Phone
(306) 966-2411 Fax
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
