Donegal Town’s Paul Cannon selected to join major international science event

Dublin City University (DCU) Doctoral student Paul Cannon from Donegal Town has been selected to attend the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting this summer. 

Running from June 30 to July 5, this event will bring together more than 30 Nobel Laureates and 600 young scientists in physics.

Organisers say young scientists will have the chance to meet well above 30 expected Nobel Laureates in an informal setting and use these personal interactions as inspiration for their future careers.

Having been selected in a multi-stage process and in cooperation with around 150 academic partners worldwide, Lindau’s Young Scientists bring their global perspectives on physics to Lake Constance from diverse places – the vast majority come from renowned institutions from over 60 countries.

Countess Bettina Bernadotte, President of the Council said: “In a situation characterised by

crises and conflicts all around the globe, the exchange of scientists from different countries, cultures, and generations cannot be valued highly enough.”

This year’s programme revolves around various topics in physics that are particularly relevant to society at large: solutions for the future of energy supply; the potential and impact of artificial intelligence; and a broader discussion of basic and applied research on quantum physics.

Paul Cannon is a former student of Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Killymard and the Abbey Vocational School. In 2021 he graduated from DCU with a First Class Honours degree, having come top of his class in First, Second, Third and Fourth Year. He was awarded the Fryar Medal for best overall performance in the final year project across all three physics programmes. 

His degree included subjects relating to Nanotechnology, Microfluidics, Lasers, Optics, Medical Diagnostics, Spectroscopy, Quantum and Statistical Physics, Digital Signal Processing, Image Processing & Analysis, Differential Equations, Biomechanics and Gait Analysis, Biomaterials, Electromagnetism, Physiology and Experimental/Laboratory Physics.

Paul is now working on a PhD supported by an Irish Research Council’s Postgraduate Scholarship.

And he has achieved all of this while suffering from a challenging sleep disorder, showing just how committed he is to his chosen field of study.