Perimeter Institute is deeply saddened by the passing of particle physicist Mark B. Wise, a talented researcher who made significant contributions to the field of high energy physics over the course of his career.
Wise is perhaps best known for his contributions to the development of heavy quark effective theory (HQET), an accomplishment which earned him the 2001 Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics alongside Nathan Isgur and Mikhail Voloshin. HQET is a mathematical formalism that enables physicists to make predictions about the behaviour of heavy quarks bound inside hadrons by the strong nuclear force, making otherwise intractable problems manageable.
Wise was the John A. McCone Professor of High Energy Physics at Caltech. He was also a longtime member of the community at Perimeter Institute, where he spent more than 15 years as a Distinguished Visiting Research Chair. Wise also acted as a member of Perimeter’s Scientific Advisory Committee (2013-16), helping guide the institute’s scientific direction, and taught Perimeter Scholars International (PSI) master’s students as a PSI Lecturer.
“Mark was remarkably generous, encouraging, and kind — and an exceptional physicist and human being. Mark was also a key advisor to and steadfast supporter of Perimeter Institute. I feel deeply fortunate we collaborated scientifically and grateful for his advice and wisdom. He will be missed greatly,” said Perimeter Institute Faculty Chair Jaume Gomis.
“Many people can attest to Mark’s brilliance, but what I will remember most is his purity of spirit, his integrity, and his profound love of physics,” said Asimina Arvanitaki, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Aristarchus Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter.
“Mark’s ideas shaped particle physics for generations of researchers and his generosity shaped Perimeter Institute. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues,” said Marcela Carena, Perimeter’s Executive Director.
You can read more about Wise’s remarkable career at Caltech News.
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Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.
