Bonn Named Head of Physics and Astronomy

Professor Doug Bonn has been named head of UBC's Department of Physics and Astronomy, effective January 1, 2009.

Bonn's research into the electromagnetic properties of high-temperature superconductors has helped make UBC a world leader in the area, and his administrative contributions include serving as chair of the University's senior appointments committee. He joined the Department as an assistant professor in 1994, after completing his PhD at McMaster University and conducting postdoctoral work at UBC.

Bonn's main focus involves unravelling the origin of high-temperature superconductivity—a major unsolved problem in condensed matter physics.

Together with colleagues Walter Hardy and Ruixing Liang, his work includes a program of materials development that is known worldwide for high purity crystal growth.

Bonn and Hardy were the first to report accurate measurement of the depth that microwaves penetrate a superconducting crystal, a discovery that changed our understanding of high temperature superconductivity. Bonn was awarded a Killam Research Price in 1999 and shared the NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize in 2005 with Hardy and Liang.

"Since joining UBC in 1989, Doug has made many valuable contributions to the Department, the Faculty of Science and the University," noted UBC Science Dean Simon Peacock. "I look forward to working with Doug to advance physics and astronomy at UBC, not only within the department, but across the broader UBC community."

"I’d also like to express my sincere thanks to Jeff Young for his excellent leadership of the Department over the past five years," added Peacock. "I've enjoyed working with Jeff and have greatly appreciated his dedication to, and efforts on behalf of, UBC Physics and Astronomy."

The Physics and Astronomy head search committee consisted of Ian Affleck, Bryce Burger, Ed Grant, Sheldon Green, Joanna Karczmarek, Frank Ko, Carl Michal, Harvey Richer, Alan Robinson and Scott Stubbs.