Ronald W. P. Drever, Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Laureate, Passes Away

On March 7, Breakthrough Prize laureate Ronald W. P. Drever sadly passed away.

Professor Drever played an integral role in the development of the laser interferometry techniques at the heart of the LIGO experiment. In 2015, LIGO successfully detected gravitational waves, launching a new field of “gravitational wave astronomy.” His legacy is not just the experiments themselves, but the profound extensions to our knowledge of the Universe they are likely to produce.

The Breakthrough Prize sends deep condolences to the family of Professor Drever, some of whom we were honored to have with us for the 2017 Breakthrough Prize ceremony, and to his friends and colleagues in Scotland and around the world.