Cather Simpson wins Physics Impact Award

Professor Cather Simpson, the founder of the Photon Factory, is the inaugural winner of an award for significant contributions to the field of physics in New Zealand.

The Physics Impact Award - Te Tohu mō te Whaihua i te Mātai Ahupūngao was awarded by the New Zealand Institute of Physics at its biennial conference on July 4. 

Simpson, a professor of physics and chemical sciences at the University, has made an “unprecedented” contribution to the commercialisation of New Zealand physics research, according to the award citation. 

Founded in 2010, the Photon Factory, is a research hub using ultrafast lasers. After founding start-ups including Engender Technologies and Orbis Diagnostics, Simpson has more biomedical spinoff companies in the pipeline. She is a partner at the deep-tech investment company Pacific Channel, and a director on the boards of companies including Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. 

Last year, she won the highest honour in the annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards. 

"I am not built for my dream career, which was to be a professional basketball player," she said in an interview published last month by Optics and Photonics News. 

"If I couldn’t be a scientist today, I think I’d continue to grow as a director but would also give a try at becoming a writer," she said. "There’s a series of short stories I’ve been thinking about writing..."

Simpson "has a passion for teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students" and has been a strong advocate for
diversity in science, women in science, and ethics in education and research, the award citation says.