Nobel Laureate in Physics Brings Global Research Perspectives to Malaysian Scientific Community

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10 Nov 2026

3 Min Read

The Taylor's Team (Editor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Taylor’s University welcomed Professor Pierre Agostini, the 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physics and Emeritus Professor at The Ohio State University, USA, for a public lecture exploring the science behind ultrafast electron dynamics and the development of attosecond pulses.

 

Hosted at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, by the University’s Centre for Active Living in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Physics (IFM), the event provided a platform for participants to engage with Professor Agostini’s work and gain insights from a distinguished figure in the global scientific community.

Nobel Laureate in Physics Shares Global Research Insights in Malaysia lecture

Exploring Ultrafast Electron Dynamics

During the session, Professor Agostini delivered a scientific talk titled ‘Strong Field Photo-Electric Effect, Photons and Attosecond Pulses’, sharing insights into the experimental methods used to investigate the behaviour of electrons over extremely short timescales. The lecture was followed by an interactive session, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with the Nobel Laureate and explore the wider significance of his career and research. 

 

The gathering brought together members of Malaysia’s scientific community from IFM and fellow universities, creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing beyond individual institutions. Also present at the event were Professor Dr See Leang Chin, Emeritus Professor at Université Laval, Canada, and Professor Dr Tou Teck Yong, President of IFM.

 

Professor Agostini said, ‘Scientific discovery is a lifelong pursuit, driven by our curiosity and the willingness to keep asking questions. Research does not stop at a single breakthrough; every discovery opens the door to new questions and possibilities for the next generation. I believe it is important to continue sharing our knowledge and experiences with young scientists, encouraging them to think independently, challenge existing ideas and pursue their own discoveries. In this way, we can continue contributing to science and society throughout our lives, while helping the next generation build on what has come before them.’

 

Professor Dr Fadi Charchar, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research at Taylor’s University, said, ‘At Taylor’s, research is central to our ambitions as a leading university, and we are committed to bringing together expertise from different disciplines and working with international partners to address real-world challenges. Professor Agostini’s visit is a valuable opportunity for our students and researchers to learn from a scientist whose work has changed how we study the physical world. It is our hope that engaging with his research and experiences will encourage young scientific minds to remain curious, pursue challenging questions with conviction and recognise that meaningful discoveries often begin with a willingness to explore what we do not yet understand.’

 

Inspiring Future Generations of Researchers

The event reflects Taylor’s University’s commitment to research that addresses complex challenges and contributes to society. Through its five research centres spanning Asian Modernisation, Future Work, Active Living, Sustainable Societies and Intelligent Innovations, the University brings together expertise across disciplines. The Centre for Active Living, which hosted the lecture, advances research in areas including active ageing, functional nutrition and regenerative medicine, with the broader aim of improving health and well-being across all stages of life.

 

In June 2026, the University welcomed His Excellency José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, for a dialogue with students titled ‘A Changing World, Enduring Values’. These engagements reflect the University’s commitment to bringing prominent individuals into the learning environment and connecting its community with distinguished voices in policy, science, and beyond.

Nobel Laureate in Physics Shares Global Research Insights in Malaysia Group Photo

About Professor Pierre Agostini

Professor Agostini was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 with Professor Ferenc Krausz and Professor Anne L’Huillier for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light to study electron dynamics in matter. An attosecond is one quintillionth of a second, allowing researchers to investigate the rapid movements of electrons. In 2001, Professor Agostini produced and investigated a series of consecutive light pulses, each lasting 250 attoseconds, marking an important milestone in the development of attosecond science.

 

Born in 1941, Professor Agostini earned his PhD from Université Aix-Marseille, France, in 1968. He spent more than three decades conducting research at the French Atomic Energy Commission’s research centre in Saclay before joining The Ohio State University in 2005. His career has contributed to advancing the understanding of the interaction between light and matter and the experimental techniques used in modern physics.

 

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