Self-taught in quantum physics, professor of the Department of Computer Science and Operational Research at the University of Montreal Gilles Brassard shares one of the two C&C prizes of 20 million yen with his colleague from the United States Charles H. Bennett, physicist at the Center IBM Research Center in New York State.
The duo are rewarded for their work which led to the creation and development of the theory of quantum computing.
A few weeks ago, Gilles Brassard and Charles H. Bennett received, along with David Deutsch and Peter Shor, another coveted scientific award, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. In 2018, they also won the Wolf Prize in Physics as well as the Chinese Micius Foundation Prize in the field of quantum communication.
Two C&C awards have been given annually since 1985 by the NEC C&C Foundation in recognition of outstanding contributions in research and development and for pioneering work related to the integration of computers and communication technologies as well as for the social significance of developments in these fields .
The visionary ideas of Gilles Brassard and his colleagues have shaped the future of information processing, but also of physics and computer science in general. Their landmark findings represent a break from conventional thinking, proving once again that basic research can translate into great benefits for society.
Gilles Brassard has received numerous awards over the years, such as the Frontiers of Knowledge award from the BBVA Foundation, which he shares with Charles H. Bennett and Professor Shor. Last year, he was designated an International Fellow of the US National Academy of Sciences, becoming the first Université de Montréal professor to be admitted to the prestigious organization.
Officer of the Order of Canada and the National Order of Quebec, he is also since 2013 one of the rare French-speaking Quebecers – and the first from UdeM – to have been elected. fellow of the Royal Society of London, following in the footsteps of eminent scientists like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.
In Canada, Gilles Brassard received the Killam Prize in Natural Sciences, the Gerhard-Herzberg Gold Medal from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and in Quebec the Marie-Victorin Prize and the Acfas Urgel-Archambault Prize. .
For more information about Gilles Brassard, visit UdeMNouvelles.