Kurdish physicist Ebrahim Karimi receives Rutherford Memorial Medal in Canada

Kurdish Professor Ebrahim Karimi on Monday received the Rutherford Memorial Medal.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2023/11/22 00:32

Professor Ebrahim Karimi on Monday received the Rutherford Memorial Medal from the Royal Society of Canada (Photo: X/Ebrahim Karimi).

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Ebrahim Karimi, Professor with the Department of Physics from the University of Ottawa and originally from Iranian Kurdistan, received the Rutherford Memorial Medal from the Royal Society of Canada on Monday.

I am honoured to receive the Rutherford Memorial Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. This award reflects not just my work but the incredible community behind me. From my high-school teachers in Saghez-Kurdiastan to my professors in Iran, Italy, the UK, Germany, & Canada. My… pic.twitter.com/0SX6X5POGw
— Ebrahim Karimi (@ebi_karimi) November 20, 2023

“I am honoured to receive the Rutherford Memorial Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. This award reflects not just my work but the incredible community behind me,” he said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“From my high-school teachers in Saghez-Kurdistan to my professors in Iran, Italy, the UK, Germany, & Canada. My colleagues, students, Ottawa and Canada for their trust and for nurturing my dreams. Above all, two remarkable women, my spouse and mom, the guiding stars in my journey.”

Moreover, Professor Ebrahim Karimi told Kurdistan 24 that "the Rutherford Memorial Medal holds deep significance for me, both personally and professionally. It marks the culmination of a journey from a challenging childhood in Kurdistan to international recognition by the Royal Society of Canada, symbolizing the triumph of resilience and the transformative power of education and curiosity."

"Professionally, this award validates the efforts and dedication of myself and my peers in physics. It highlights the importance of scientific exploration and knowledge, celebrating the collective contributions of mentors, colleagues, students, and supportive institutions like the University of Ottawa."

"Ultimately, this award is not only a personal honour but also a beacon of inspiration for all aspiring scientists, demonstrating that perseverance and commitment to science can lead to extraordinary achievements and recognition on the world stage," he concluded.

The Rutherford Memorial Medal is an award for research in the fields of physics and chemistry by the Royal Society of Canada, and is named after New Zealand physicist Ernest Rutherford.

It is awarded once for physics and once for chemistry each year.

The Royal Society of Canada in an announcement in September on the award winners, said that Karimi is a “pioneering figure in the fields of photonics and electron beam optics.”

“His innovative work involves creating novel devices capable of generating structured photonic and electron waves. He has applied these devices to enhance secure communication protocols, simulate complex quantum systems, engineer the quantum wavefunction of electrons to characterise materials, and address fundamental questions in physics.”

In 2020, Karimi, was also awarded the 2020 Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Herzberg Medal, which recognizes outstanding achievement by an early-career Canadian physicist.