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Nobel physics winner thanks Australia
06:14 AEST Wed Oct 5 2011
AFP
Brian Schmidt has expanded man's understanding of the universe. (AAP)
American-Australian astronomer who Tuesday shared the Nobel Physics Prize thanked his adopted country for giving him the opportunity to do his groundbreaking work from a young age.
Brian Schmidt and US researchers Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess were honoured for their work on supernovae, which the Nobel jury said had changed mankind's understanding of the universe.
Speaking from his home in Canberra, the US-born Schmidt said it "certainly was a big surprise" to be told he had won the award for work on observations of ancient stars that flare in their death throes into becoming supernovae.
"I was sort of, quite frankly, sceptical about the whole thing (winning the award). So it was definitely a surprise when I got the call," the 44-year-old, who grew up in Alaska and completed his PhD at Harvard, told AFP by telephone.
Schmidt, who is a professor of astronomy at the Australian National University (ANU), said he may not have become a Nobel winner if he hadn't met his Australian wife at Harvard and come to live in the country 17 years ago.
"For me, I think being in Australia was probably, you know, absolutely essential for being part of this," he said.
"I came here at the age of 27 and was able, and was backed with the resources and just the status, to run an international team.
"And you know that's a uniquely Australian thing. So I guess for me I think if I had stayed in the US this might not have happened.
"So I guess I am very grateful to ANU and Australia in general for all the support I got here as a very young person."
Schmidt said one of the reasons he was so readily willing to come to Australia was the opportunity to work at Mount Stromlo, which he described as "one of the great astronomical institutions in the world".
ANU vice-chancellor Professor Ian Young said he was overjoyed.
"The work recognised by this Nobel Prize has helped to unveil a universe that, to a large extent, was unknown to science," he said.
"He has shown that what we see in the skies is but a tiny fraction of what is really out there. Brian reminds us of the infinite mysteries yet to be understood."
Schmidt completed his undergraduate degree in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Arizona in 1989. Under the supervision of Robert Kirshner, he completed his Astronomy Master's degree and PhD from Harvard.
In 1994 he formed the High-Z SN Search team, a group of 20 astronomers on five continents who used distant exploding stars to trace the expansion of the universe back in time. He joined the ANU staff in 1995.
Schmidt is continuing his work using exploding stars to study the universe, and leading Mt Stromlo's effort to build the SkyMapper telescope -- a facility that will provide a comprehensive digital map of the southern sky.
Schmidt, who has a wife and two teenage sons, said when he was officially informed that he had won the prize, "The Nobel Prize guy said 'It was nice to have someone young'."
Asked whether he was young enough to win it again, Schmidt said: "I think once in a lifetime is enough."
06:14 AEST Wed Oct 5 2011
AFP
Brian Schmidt has expanded man's understanding of the universe. (AAP)
American-Australian astronomer who Tuesday shared the Nobel Physics Prize thanked his adopted country for giving him the opportunity to do his groundbreaking work from a young age.
Brian Schmidt and US researchers Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess were honoured for their work on supernovae, which the Nobel jury said had changed mankind's understanding of the universe.
Speaking from his home in Canberra, the US-born Schmidt said it "certainly was a big surprise" to be told he had won the award for work on observations of ancient stars that flare in their death throes into becoming supernovae.
"I was sort of, quite frankly, sceptical about the whole thing (winning the award). So it was definitely a surprise when I got the call," the 44-year-old, who grew up in Alaska and completed his PhD at Harvard, told AFP by telephone.
Schmidt, who is a professor of astronomy at the Australian National University (ANU), said he may not have become a Nobel winner if he hadn't met his Australian wife at Harvard and come to live in the country 17 years ago.
"For me, I think being in Australia was probably, you know, absolutely essential for being part of this," he said.
"I came here at the age of 27 and was able, and was backed with the resources and just the status, to run an international team.
"And you know that's a uniquely Australian thing. So I guess for me I think if I had stayed in the US this might not have happened.
"So I guess I am very grateful to ANU and Australia in general for all the support I got here as a very young person."
Schmidt said one of the reasons he was so readily willing to come to Australia was the opportunity to work at Mount Stromlo, which he described as "one of the great astronomical institutions in the world".
ANU vice-chancellor Professor Ian Young said he was overjoyed.
"The work recognised by this Nobel Prize has helped to unveil a universe that, to a large extent, was unknown to science," he said.
"He has shown that what we see in the skies is but a tiny fraction of what is really out there. Brian reminds us of the infinite mysteries yet to be understood."
Schmidt completed his undergraduate degree in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Arizona in 1989. Under the supervision of Robert Kirshner, he completed his Astronomy Master's degree and PhD from Harvard.
In 1994 he formed the High-Z SN Search team, a group of 20 astronomers on five continents who used distant exploding stars to trace the expansion of the universe back in time. He joined the ANU staff in 1995.
Schmidt is continuing his work using exploding stars to study the universe, and leading Mt Stromlo's effort to build the SkyMapper telescope -- a facility that will provide a comprehensive digital map of the southern sky.
Schmidt, who has a wife and two teenage sons, said when he was officially informed that he had won the prize, "The Nobel Prize guy said 'It was nice to have someone young'."
Asked whether he was young enough to win it again, Schmidt said: "I think once in a lifetime is enough."
