The quest to unlock the secrets of the universe at an incredibly small scale just received a major boost- University of Oxford’s Professor Peter Norreys has been awarded the prestigious Fernand Holweck Prize for his groundbreaking work with high energy density plasmas. Utilizing powerful lasers, Norreys has pioneered research into areas like inertial fusion – a potential source of limitless clean energy – and the creation of ultra-bright X-ray sources, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of fundamental particles and interactions. This award, steeped in history as a symbol of Anglo-French scientific collaboration since 1945, recognizes not only his scientific achievements, but also his dedication to fostering international partnerships in the pursuit of knowledge.
Norreys Awarded Holweck Prize for Research
Professor Peter Norreys’s receipt of the 2025 Fernand Holweck Prize not only acknowledges his significant contributions to high energy density plasma research, but also continues a tradition of Anglo-French scientific collaboration dating back to 1945. The award, presented alternately to physicists from England and France, honors the legacy of Fernand Holweck, a physicist tragically murdered during the Nazi occupation for his resistance efforts – a poignant history underscoring the prize’s commitment to international scientific unity. Norreys’s work, utilizing powerful petawatt-class lasers, has yielded groundbreaking results in areas like inertial fusion and the creation of ultra-bright X-ray sources, evidenced by his prolific publication record – including 45 articles in Physical Review Letters and contributions to Science and Nature journals. Beyond the sheer volume of his research, Norreys’s success is built upon extensive international partnerships with colleagues in the EU, US, and Japan, as highlighted by Professor Andrew Boothroyd, Head of Department, who noted the fitting timing of the announcement during Norreys’s return from the Ecole Polytechnique.
Beyond the immediate recognition of his scientific achievements, Professor Norreys’s award carries significant weight as a continuation of a post-war tradition designed to foster international scientific unity. Established in 1945 to honor the memory of physicist Fernand Holweck – a martyr of the Nazi occupation and advocate for Allied scientific collaboration – the Fernand Holweck Prize alternates annually between physicists from England and France. This bilateral award, one of the Société Française de Physique’s “Grands Prix,” underscores the importance of cross-border research, a principle deeply embedded in Norreys’s own career. His extensive partnerships with colleagues in the EU, US, and Japan have been crucial to his success, evidenced by his prolific output – including a significant 15 publications within Nature-family journals – and the collaborative grant applications that have supported his research at the University of Oxford and the UKRI-STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Norreys’s receipt of the prize, particularly during his return from the Ecole Polytechnique, fittingly highlights his long-standing commitment to these vital international connections.
