Director of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy, Nigel Lockyer, has earned one of the United Kingdom’s highest accolades. The Queen of England appointed Lockyer Officer of the Order of the British Empire in her New Year’s honors list, one of the highest grades in the nation’s chivalry order.
Every year, the honors list acknowledges individuals from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who have made significant contributions to society. This year’s roster features James Bond actor Daniel Craig and tennis star Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021.
Lockyer was honored for his “services to science and UK/US relations.” He was born in Scotland and reared in Canada. Lockyer has led Fermilab’s preparations to host the worldwide Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment since being named director in 2013. DUNE is being worked on by approximately 1,400 scientists and engineers from over 30 nations.
The United Kingdom is an important DUNE partner. Representatives from the UK Research and Innovation department and the US Department of Energy signed an agreement in 2020 outlining £65 million in contributions from UK research institutions and scientists to DUNE and associated initiatives, such as the development of the PIP-II particle accelerator. UK scientists are helping to develop the world’s most powerful neutrino beam, in addition to building components for the massive particle detector at the core of DUNE.
The US Department of Energy’s Office of Science supports Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The Office of Science is the single largest funder of fundamental research in the physical sciences in the United States, and it is trying to solve some of the world’s most serious problems. Visit science.energy.gov for additional details.
PHOTO: Fermilab Director Nigel Lockyer CREDIT: Fermilab