Thomas W. Ebbesen

Thomas W. Ebbesen is a distinguished French-Norwegian physical chemist currently serving as Professor at the University of Strasbourg, Director of the Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Studies (USIAS), and head of the Fondation Jean-Marie-Lehn. Born in Oslo, Norway on January 30, 1954, he completed his education at Oberlin College and Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, where he earned his Ph.D. His academic journey includes significant research positions at the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory, NEC Fundamental Research Laboratories in Tsukuba, Japan, and the NEC Research Institute in Princeton before joining the University of Strasbourg in 1999.

Ebbesen's research spans multiple groundbreaking areas in physical chemistry and nanoscience. He pioneered the synthesis of carbon nanotubes in large quantities and discovered their remarkable mechanical properties. His most transformative contribution is the discovery of extraordinary optical transmission through subwavelength holes, which revolutionized nano-optics and earned him the 2014 Kavli Prize. Since 2005, he has developed innovative research on light-matter interactions at the quantum level, demonstrating how material properties can be modified through strong coupling with cavity electromagnetic fields.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on quantum electrodynamics applications in physical chemistry, particularly examining how vacuum fields influence chemical reactivity and semiconductor conductivity. This work represents a paradigm shift in understanding light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.

Among his numerous prestigious honors are the CNRS Gold Medal (2019), widely considered France's highest scientific distinction, the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience (2014), and multiple international prizes recognizing his pioneering work in nanotechnology. He is also a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and a foreign member of the French Academy of Sciences.

Ebbesen has held significant leadership roles, serving as director of the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering (ISIS) from 2005 to 2012 and founding the Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Studies in 2012. In 2017-18, he held the Liliane Bettencourt Technological Innovation Chair at the Collège de France, further cementing his reputation as a leading figure in interdisciplinary scientific research.