Scientists from the University of Victoria are among global researchers honoured with the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their work with the ATLAS Collaboration at CERN, an intergovernmental organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
ATLAS, a multi-technology particle detector, is one of the largest and most complex scientific instruments ever built. It was designed to investigate the fundamental building blocks of matter and the forces governing our universe, and has enabled discoveries like the Higgs boson, studies of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry and the exploration of nature under the most extreme conditions. ATLAS is awarded the prize alongside its sister experiments ALICE, CMS and LHCb, representing collaborations at LHC.
UVic president Kevin Hall (third from left) visiting CERN, alongside UVic researchers Gerardo Vasquez, Mark Hartz, Heather Russell, Clément Chamincher, Joseph Lambeert, and Maheyer Shroff
UVic has been at the forefront of ATLAS research since 1992 with physics professor Michel Lefebvre as a founding member of the collaboration. UVic researchers have helped shape the experiment's scientific direction through leadership in the Standard Model working group, ATLAS trigger and data quality assessment. They have also led the development of software tools for data analysis and contributed to the development and operation of technologies key to the detector's success.
"Our team's work on detector design and construction, ATLAS operations, and now on critical upgrades to ATLAS, exemplifies the innovation driving ATLAS forward," says Robert McPherson, UVic physics professor and Institute of Particle Physics Research Scientist. "This recognition affirms the impact of our contributions and inspires us to continue exploring the universe's most fundamental questions." McPherson is also the principal investigator of the 200 Canadians scientists contributing to ATLAS.
While the ATLAS Collaboration celebrates the recognition of the Breakthrough Prize, its focus remains firmly on the future. UVic's team of 30 physicists and engineers is deeply involved in preparing ATLAS for the third operation period of the LHC, leading the development of new technological upgrades and software. UVic recently recruited two new Canada Research Chairs in particle physics, ensuring our leadership in the future of ATLAS.
The annual Breakthrough Prize event, held in Los Angeles, celebrates the world's largest science awards complete with a Hollywood red carpet. Read the Breakthrough Prize Foundation announcement.
