Rice University hails alumnus's Nobel Prize win

Rice University announced that Dr. Louis Brus, an alumnus of the private Houston university, has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his "discovery and development of quantum dots." The university expressed its pride and congratulated Brus and his colleagues for the well-deserved recognition.

Rice President Dr. Reginald DesRoches praised Brus's groundbreaking scientific career, which has bridged the fields of chemistry and physics and has opened up new avenues of research and discovery. In an October 4th press release, Dr. DesRoches stated, "We are proud of and salute our alum Louis and congratulate him and his colleagues for this well-deserved award."

Brus, who graduated from Rice University in 1965, studied chemistry, physics, and mathematics as an undergraduate. Reflecting on his time at Rice, he described it as a "wonderful place" in a speech he gave after receiving the 2008 Kavli Prize in nanoscience. He went on to earn a doctorate in chemical physics from Columbia University in 1969.

After completing his education, Brus served as a scientific staff officer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Navy. He then joined AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ, where he laid the groundwork for the discovery of quantum dots. In 1996, Brus began his academic career at Columbia University.

Quantum dots, according to Reuters, are tiny clusters of atoms that are utilized in modern technology to create colors in flat screens and medical imaging. Brus shares the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with scientists Moungi Bawendi and Aleksey Ekimov for their contributions to the field of quantum dots.

The recognition of Dr. Louis Brus's achievements by the Nobel Prize committee is a testament to his significant contributions to the field of chemistry and his pioneering work in the development of quantum dots. Rice University celebrates its alumnus's success and his role in advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.