TORONTO, March 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, in Ontario, Canada, is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Director Neil Turok to a second five-year term at the Institute's helm.

In conjunction with the renewal, Perimeter also announced the establishment of the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Niels Bohr Chair in Theoretical Physics, with Dr. Turok as the inaugural chairholder. This is the second Perimeter Research Chair to be announced, following the 2012 appointment of Xiao-Gang Wen as the BMO Financial Group Isaac Newton Chair in Theoretical Physics.

In making the announcement, Board Chair Mike Lazaridis said, "When we invited Dr. Neil Turok to be Perimeter's Director in 2008, we knew he was a world-class scientist and a visionary leader. What he has brought to the Institute in his first term as Director has been nothing short of outstanding. Under his direction, Perimeter has become one of the leading centres for theoretical physics in the world. The Board's decision to re-appoint Neil was unanimous, as was the support for the decision from faculty and Perimeter's Scientific Advisory Committee. We look forward to his ongoing leadership, as we continue to build Perimeter Institute and the Quantum Valley in Waterloo Region. It is also a special privilege for Ophelia and me to lend our name to this new Chair that will support Neil's world-leading research in early universe cosmology."

Dr. Turok commented, "I am humbled and excited by this news and very grateful for the confidence and support of the Board. I am especially honoured to be appointed as the first holder of the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Niels Bohr Chair and appreciative of the incredible support of Mike Lazaridis and the Board. Working with Perimeter's outstanding faculty and staff over the last several years has been intense, exciting, and hugely rewarding. Our shared vision, of course, is to achieve the research breakthroughs that will transform the future. While we cannot predict exactly where or when those breakthroughs will come, we can seed the ground by encouraging brilliant researchers to do their most ambitious research and by nurturing the brightest young talents from around the world. Together, we are reinventing how theoretical physics is done. I can't wait to get started on the next five years."

Full information is available on the Perimeter Institute website, including highlights of Dr. Turok's first term as Director.

About Perimeter

Perimeter Institute is an independent, non-profit, scientific research organization working to advance our understanding of physical laws and develop new ideas about the very essence of space, time, matter, and information. Located in Waterloo, and in partnership with the Governments of Ontario and Canada, Perimeter is a successful example of public-private collaboration in scientific research, training, and outreach.

For further information:
John Matlock
Director of External Relations and Public Affairs
jmatlock@perimeterinstitute.ca
+1-519-569-7600 ext 5030

SOURCE Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics