Albert Fert, honorary doctor of the UAB

Ana Ripoll, rectora de la UAB, i Albert Fert

The UAB presented Nobel Prize winner in physics Albert Fert with an honorary doctorate at the ceremony held on 21 May at the Rectorate building. With this award UAB wishes to recognise Fert's valuable contributions in the field of condensed matter physics, all of which have had significant scientific, technological and social impacts. Among them is the discovery of the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect which gave way to the creation of increased storage space in hard disks and at the same time a reduction in the size of the storage device, as well as the development of spintronics, a new scientific and technological field expected to one day replace electronics.

21/05/2009

Josep Fontcuberta, sponsor of the honorary doctor, pointed out during his speech that Fert exemplifies the fact that the apparent dichotomy between basic and applied research does not exist. "The discovery of GMR and the birth of spintronics, both works of Albert Fert, are symbols of the harmony between basic science and technology", said Fontcuberta as he illustrated Fert's scientific career which "has given results which in many aspects have changed our way of communicating and by extension our lives".

Josep Fontcuberta described the path that led Albert Fert to discovering GMR and defined the French researcher as an "artist of science", who knew how to "draw on earlier contributions, integrate them into a new intellectual structure and follow the new technologies in order to design and manufacture optimal artificial materials to be used with the ideas he had been working on for years".

Fontcuberta ended his speech by pointing out "the generosity and guidance of our honorary doctor" which has led him to collaborate with researchers from around the world and especially with those from universities and research centres in Catalonia, such as ICMAB and the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology.

Albert Fert focused his master lecture on the origin, development and future of spintronics and highlighted the relevance in the near future of this new type of electronics which exploits the charge and spin direction of electrons to obtain smaller and more efficient devices with new functionalities.

Fert related the first observations which led him to discover GMR and its applications for sensors and hard disks as well as his later discovery of tunnel magneoresistance (TMR), which allowed him to obtain new materials with a much greater capacity of storage and the development of the first magnetic memory (MRAM) in 2006.

The new possibilities of applying spintronics to semiconductor materials and carbon nanotubes were also a central part of the master lecture given by Fert, who believes spintronics will play "an important role in the technology of this century. Given that its potential in quantum computers is still to be determined, in the future we can expect to see revolutionary applications", he concluded.

At the end of the ceremony, UAB Rector Ana Ripoll pointed out the fact that Albert Fert had improved the life of society, who normally associate improvements with progress in other fields such as health. "It is not often that pure scientists, such as physicists or mathematicians, are seen by society as individuals who intervene or influence to improve our daily lives. Dr Fert however has changed this perception", she stated.

Ana Ripoll stressed UAB's firm support of activities in nanoscience and nanotechnology and encouraged Albert Fert to continue advancing firmly towards progress in spintronics. She also congratulated him for the "close, long and profitable collaboration he and his team have maintained throughout these years with UAB and ICMAB”.

Ripoll concluded her speech with a mention to the "insatiable curiosity and desire to learn" of the new honorary doctor, as well as "the bond he has established with scientists with whom he has collaborated, which is an essential part of working in teams".

The ceremony ended with musical performances by "Jazz bits", with Alex Martos and Àlvar Sánchez, and "Gaudeamus Igitur" by the UAB Choir.

More information: MASTER LECTURE BY ALBERT FERT
SPEECH BY SPONSOR JOSEP FONTCUBERTA