Professor Giorgio Parisi, joint winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics, was awarded an honorary degree in Mathematics at King’s Winter Graduation this year alongside a group of soon to be graduates.

A theoretical physicist of international renown, Professor Parisi’s research career has seen him produce vital contributions to a myriad of fields, including elementary particle physics, field theory and complexity theory.

His work has led him to collect some of the most coveted awards in physics, including the Wolf Prize, but his best-known accolade has been the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics, which he shared with Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann for their contributions to the theory of complex systems.

Before the graduation, Parisi gave a talk at the flagship King’s Mathematical Colloquium entitled ‘Chaos with Magnetic Field’ on the topic of the unpredictable magnetism of spin glasses, a type of magnetic state characterised by disorder and a lack of magnetic alignment.  

Reflecting on the significance of the appointment, Professor Steven Gilmour, Head of the Department of Mathematics, said “Not only is it an honour to have Professor Parisi join our department as an honorary graduate and share with us a lively evening of learning and debate, but this appointment also speaks to the quality of academic leaders we have at King’s. Ours is a community built on excellence across our research and teaching, and the opportunity to welcome a Nobel Prize winner into it is both a celebration and recognition of that”. 

Professor Rachel Bearon, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural Mathematical and Engineering Sciences said of the occasion, “People and their individual talent are the bedrock of any university, and their excellence is the most important resource we have."

"It’s a great privilege to invite Professor Parisi to join us as an honorary graduate of King’s and his place here is reflective of our serious commitment to nurture a rich academic environment within our faculty to make a meaningful contribution to the world around us”. 

Now a recipient of an honorary degree from King’s, Professor Parisi joins leading lights from across the sciences and humanities including Nobel Prize-winning physicist and King’s alum Professor Peter Higgs and former Prime Minister Sir John Major.