US Secretary of Energy made IOP honorary fellow

This week US Secretary of Energy Dr Steven Chu was awarded honorary fellowship of the Institute of Physics (IOP) at a Glasgow ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of laser technology in Scotland.

After receiving his fellowship, Chu – who jointly won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1997 – gave some insight into sustainable energy solutions as part of his work as United States Secretary of Energy.

The event, organised by Strathclyde University, brought together speakers who talked about a range of laser applications and gave a national perspective on the importance of the laser in every day life, from use in CDs and DVDs to life saving treatments.

Scottish Industry, supported by a world class research base, has been at the forefront of laser technology since its invention 50 years ago.

A new publication, Laser 50 Scotland, estimates that Scotland’s laser industry contributed approximately £660 million to the economy in 2009. The industry employs 3,000 highly skilled people, and the global market is predicted to grow at a compound rate of 9% through to 2014.