Professor, University of British Columbia; Director, Cosmology, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Bill Unruh has done important work in cosmology and quantum physics. According to his homepage, his current research interests include: applying quantum mechanics to gravity and the role of time; quantum processes in the early universe, including the onset of inflation, quantum generation of density fluctuations, and formation of cosmic strings; and the process of black hole evaporation, discovered by Hawking, which is still a mystery. "Concern about the measurement process in quantum field theory has led me, for example, to the realization that particles are really defined by 'particle detectors'; an accelerated particle detector in the vacuum would detect particles. ... In general, my philosophy is to study techniques rather than to find solutions with (possibly) unreliable, crude techniques."
BSc (Hon.), U. of Manitoba, 1967; MA, Princeton U, 1969; PhD, 1971. Rutherford Mem. Fellow 1971; Miller Rsch. Fellow, U. of Calif. 1973-74; Asst. Prof., McMaster U. 1974-76; Assoc. Prof., UBC, 1976-82; Dir., Cosmology, Candn. Inst. for Adv. Rsch 1986-; various worldwide appointments & lectrs. since 1972; Alfred P. Sloan Rsch. Fellowship 1978-80; Rutherford medal, Roy. Soc. Can. 1982; Herzberg Medal, Candn. Assn. of Physics 1983; Steacie Prize 1984; Steacie Fellowship, NSERC 1984-86; Fellow, Roy. Soc. Can. 1984; Rutherford Lectr., RSC, 1985; Fellow, CIAR 1986-; Japan Soc. for Promotion of Science Fellow 1986; BC Science Council Gold Medal 1990; author of num. scholarly articles & book chapters.
Sources: Canadian Who's Who, 1993
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