Andrew Ellis from the Department of Chemistry was recently promoted to professor of physical chemistry and was invited by the vice-chancellor to present his Inaugural Lecture.

A world expert on laser spectroscopy, Prof. Ellis eloquently described the research carried out in his group during his lecture, titled ‘the light fantastic: using lasers to explore the molecular world’.

He said: “lasers allow us to probe deeply into the bizarre and extraordinary world of atoms and molecules, where quantum mechanics reigns supreme.”

“Applications of our techniques are many and varied, and range from the study of new types of molecules, the development of new concepts in nanotechnology, and the investigation of long-known but highly mysterious phenomena such as superfluidity.”

During his lecture, Prof. Ellis gave a spectacular demonstration of a high-powered laser, in the lecture theatre!