[News-releases] TRIUMF/Carleton Physicist Wins Inaugural CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal

[Tim Meyer]

News Release | For Immediate Release | April 14, 2011

TRIUMF/CARLETON PHYSICIST WINS INAUGURAL CAP-TRIUMF VOGT MEDAL

(Vancouver, BC) — The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) and TRIUMF
are pleased to announce that the 2011 CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal for
Contributions to Subatomic Physics is awarded to Professor David Sinclair, a
professor of physics at Carleton University and senior scientist at TRIUMF,
for his exceptional vision and contributions to the study of neutrino
physics in the pioneering SNO experiment, and for exemplary leadership in
establishing the SNOLab facility.   

Upon receiving the good news, Sinclair said, “I am extremely honoured to be
selected to receive this award. Canada has such a strong program in
sub-atomic physics encompassing the whole spectrum.”  Dr. Sinclair has been
one of the leaders of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) and it is for
his seminal contributions to the design, construction, and operation of SNO
that he is awarded the CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal.

David Sinclair is one of Canada’s most eminent scientists in the field of
experimental subatomic physics.  He has dedicated much of his research
career to solving the “solar neutrino problem,” an apparent deficit in the
flux from the sun of difficult-to-detect neutrinos that are an essential end
product of the fusion reactions in the solar core.  To this end, Dr.
Sinclair was one of the founders of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, the
experiment that solved this puzzle.  The resolution resulted in a
significant revision of our understanding of elementary particles with the
confirmation that not only do neutrinos have mass but they also change
flavor and constitute an important fraction of all matter in the universe.
The journal Science cited the SNO results as one of the top 10 breakthroughs
in all of science in the years 2001 and 2002.  

The CAP-TRIUMF Medal is named in honour of Erich W. Vogt, professor emeritus
at UBC, former director of TRIUMF, and one of the original pioneers of
Canada’s primacy in particle and nuclear physics.  About the selection of
Dr. Sinclair as the inaugural recipient of the prestigious medal, Professor
Vogt said, “I am delighted that this first award is being given to David
Sinclair who has been an outstanding leader in the Sudbury Neutrino
experiments.  The work of David and his colleagues has fundamentally changed
the way we think about the universe.  It removed that nagging doubt, of
forty years, about whether we really understood anything about the
production of energy deep inside the Sun.  My warmest congratulations to
David.”

Dr. Sinclair added on a personal note, “To be selected from this field for
the inaugural medal is a very special honour for me.  I am particularly
pleased that the medal bears Erich Vogt’s name.  When I was a graduate
student, Erich had already established a reputation as an outstanding
scientist and scholar.”

Sinclair has continued his leadership in subatomic physics as SNOLab’s
Director of Facility Development.  SNOLab will position Canada at the
leading edge of subatomic physics research for years to come.  He is
currently developing a project called EXO focusing on neutrinos which aims
to fundamentally advance our understanding of elementary particles and their
interactions.

Nigel S. Lockyer, director of TRIUMF, said, “I am delighted to launch this
prestigious award with CAP; it celebrates Canada’s strengths in subatomic
physics and recognizes those people that have had a global impact on
science.  David is truly a great physicist and his contributions to science,
to other physicists, and to students have been outstanding.”  

The purpose of the CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal is to recognize and encourage
outstanding experimental or theoretical contributions to subatomic physics.
While the main criterion for awarding the Vogt medal is the excellence of
the research accomplishments, preference will be given for a recent
important advance in subatomic physics and to researchers who are still
active.  The candidate’s research should have been done primarily in Canada
or in affiliation with a Canadian university, industry or government
laboratory.  

Dr. Sinclair will be presented with the 2011 CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal for
Contributions to Subatomic Physics at the 2011 CAP Congress (hosted by
Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Newfoundland, from June
13-17) at the end of his plenary talk and will be recognized during the
Congress banquet to be held on Thursday, June 16, 2011.

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Timothy I. Meyer, Ph.D.
Head, Strategic Planning & Communications
TRIUMF -- Accelerating Science for Canada |
    Un accélérateur de la démarche scientifique canadienne
4004 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC  V6T 2A3  CANADA
Tel: 604-222-7674
Fax: 604-222-3791
Cell: 650-464-8955
E-mail: tmeyer at triumf.ca
WWW: http://www.triumf.ca
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