About the Higgs Centre

             James Clerk Maxwell                                        Max Born                                        Peter Higgs

The most powerful scientific instrument employed in theoretical physics is the human mind: a peculiar combination of logical and intuitive thinking seems to be capable of understanding and even predicting the fundamental nature of the physical world we observe around us – even in areas such as quantum theory or cosmology which are very far removed from everyday experience.

Of course no theorist thinks entirely independently: we all benefit from those that have gone before us, and from those around us, whether they are teachers or colleagues. We learn from reading books, scientific papers, giving and attending lectures and seminars, from discussing in front of the blackboard, and then working through all these things in our own head in our own way to obtain our own personal perspective. It is through this continuing process of communication and introspection that new ideas grow and develop.

At the Higgs Centre we aim to bring together students, researchers and professors in theoretical physics from around the world into an environment where they can teach, learn, and discuss openly and freely. We do this through a range of programmes of graduate lectures, seminars and colloquia, workshops and symposia, facilitated by graduate student, visitor and associate programmes. All this in a purpose built space designed to encourage interaction, set in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

The Director of the Higgs Centre is Richard Ball, Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh. Local organization is through a Management Committee, while more strategic issues are decided with the help of an International Advisory Committee. The Centre is located in the James Clerk Maxwell Building, on the Kings Buildings Campus.

The Higgs Centre is supported by the University of Edinburgh Campaign.

International Advisory Committee

Guido Altarelli

CERN Staff and Professor of Physics at the University of Rome.
Lance Dixon

Professor, Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre (SLAC), Stanford University
John Ellis CBE FRS

Clerk Maxwell Professor of Theoretical Physics, King’s College, London
Fabiola Gianotti

CERN. ATLAS Spokesperson.
Peter Higgs CH FRS FRSE

Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Edinburgh
Richard Kenway OBE FRSE

Tait Professor of Mathematical Physics, University of Edinburgh,
IAC Convenor
Martin Lüscher

CERN Staff
Subir Sachdev

Professor of Physics. Harvard University.
James Stirling CBE, FRS

Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy, Head of the Cavendish, University of Cambridge
Neil Turok

Director, Perimeter Institute, Canada