Michael Pepper, Teraview Chief Scientific Officer, Knighted
Michael Pepper, professor of physics at the University of Cambridge, received a knighthood in the list for his services to physics.
Professor Pepper is a fellow of the Royal Society and a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He has received numerous prizes for his work on semiconductors.
He is also chief scientific officer of Teraview, a company founded to exploit terahertz radiation.
The terahertz frequency range lies between microwave rays and infrared rays on the electromagnetic spectrum. They are expected to have applications in medical imaging, drug discovery and homeland security.
Source: BBC News.
Tiny work leads to a huge reward for scientist
GROUND-BREAKING research into nanotechnology - technology on a microscopic scale - has led to a knighthood for a Cambridge professor.
The work of Professor Sir Michael Pepper, 60, resulted in the creation of the modern field of semiconductor nanostructures.
He is head of the Semiconductor Physics Group at Cambridge University’s Cavendish Laboratory and a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
The accolade comes just months after he received the prestigious Royal Medal of the Royal Society.
Sir Michael, who lives with his wife, psychiatrist Annette Josse, on Barton Road, Cambridge, and has two children, said: “I feel greatly honoured.”
The top scientist has worked closely with former Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Sir Alec Broers, and has been based at the Cavendish Laboratory for more than 30 years.
Sir Michael, who received the knighthood for services to physics, said: “We pioneered nanotechnology, which is used for future computers and information technology.”
“Nanotechnology is a new area of physics which may give rise to future quantum information technology.”
When Sir Michael was awarded the Royal Medal, the Royal Society said his work had the highest level of influence in condensed matter physics.
Nanotechnology aims to manipulate and control tiny particles, at the scale of single atoms and small molecules, for use in manufacturing, medicine and computing. One nanometre is tiny - just one thousandth of a micrometre or one millionth of a millimetre.
Quantum Information Technology concerns the transport and processing of information using individual particles, such as electrons or photons.
Sir Michael set up the Cambridge research lab of Toshiba Research Europe at Cambridge Science Park and is director of spin-off company Tera- View, which develops hi-tech security equipment that uses nanotechnology, and hand-held security devices capable of spotting concealed weapons not showing up via X-ray. Terahertz light, which lies between the microwave and infrared, can pass through clothing, bags and common packaging materials.
Source: The Cambridge Evening News.
TeraView strengthens: honours and additions to the executive management team
TeraView Ltd, the world leader in commercial exploitation of Terahertz technology, is delighted to announce that Michael Pepper, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder at TeraView Ltd, and Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge, has been knighted in the New Year’s Honours list.
As part of the continued strengthening of its senior management team, the Company is also pleased to announce that Paddy O’Kelly will join TeraView in February 2006 as Chief Operating Officer.
TeraView Ltd. was founded by Professor Michael Pepper and Dr Don Arnone in April 2001 as an independent spin off from Toshiba Research Europe Ltd. Professor Pepper is a pioneer of both semiconductor nanostructures as well as Terahertz technology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Terahertz is a non-destructive imaging tool using frequencies between the infrared and microwave that were previously inaccessible. Under Professor Pepper’s guidance, the Company has successfully developed and sold early stage products to major pharmaceutical companies to aid in the design of new controlled release tablets, as well as trouble shooting and quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The technology also has uses in non-intrusive detection of non-metallic weapons and plastic explosives, where product development is currently supported by the US government, as well as the detection of cancer, where early stage imaging prototypes are currently supported by the National Health Service.
‘Our team has worked with great inventiveness and initiative to bring this technology to its present powerful state. As little as three years ago the technology was confined to the laboratory, and they have transformed it into products used by customers to solve previously intractable problems. Continual improvements, including reduction in size and cost to open up new markets, are the hallmarks of TeraView,’ says Professor Pepper.
Paddy O’Kelly joins TeraView as Chief Operating Officer at a time when several large contracts have been secured from major pharmaceutical customers as well as medical imaging partners. Padraig brings over 20 years experience to operations and product development as well as other commercial aspects of TeraView’s business, most recently from Applied Imaging Corporation where he is Managing Director.
‘I am delighted to be joining the Company at a time when it is facing a number of key challenges related to its recent commercial successes’, said Paddy.
Dr Don Arnone, Chief Executive Officer of TeraView Ltd, said ‘Having had the pleasure of working both for and with Sir Michael in different capacities over the last 13 years, I am personally delighted that his numerous contributions to British science and industry have been recognized in this manner. I join our Board, shareholders and staff in extending congratulations to Mike.
‘I am also delighted that Paddy has chosen to join TeraView, which is a testament to the Company’s continuing success in building up a world-class executive management team. Given the recent contracts that we have successfully procured from pharmaceutical and medical customers, it is critical that we execute and deliver in a timely fashion, and Paddy’s breadth and depth of experience are vital in this respect.’
Source: Teraview