David Baltimore
American biologist
Abdus Salam
theoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient
Abdus Salam was a pioneering Pakistani physicist who shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the electroweak unification theory. He was the first Pakistani and first scientist from an Islamic country to receive a Nobel Prize, playing a crucial role in the development of science infrastructure in Pakistan.
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About the Abdus Salam
Mohammad Abdus Salam was a Pakistani theoretical physicist. He shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics with Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg for his contribution to the electroweak unification theory. He was the first Pakistani and the first scientist from an Islamic country to receive a Nobel Prize and the second from an Islamic country to receive any Nobel Prize, after Anwar Sadat of Egypt.
Salam was scientific advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology in Pakistan from 1960 to 1974, a position from which he played a major and influential role in the development of the country’s science infrastructure. Salam contributed to numerous developments in theoretical and particle physics in Pakistan. He was the founding director of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), and responsible for the establishment of the Theoretical Physics Group (TPG). For this, he is viewed as the “scientific father” of this program. In 1974, Abdus Salam departed from his country in protest after the Parliament of Pakistan unanimously passed a parliamentary bill declaring members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, to which Salam belonged, non-Muslim. In 1998, following the country’s Chagai-I nuclear tests, the Government of Pakistan issued a commemorative stamp, as a part of “Scientists of Pakistan”, to honour the services of Salam.
Salam’s notable achievements include the Pati-Salam model, magnetic photon, vector meson, Grand Unified Theory, work on supersymmetry and, most importantly, electroweak theory, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Salam made a major contribution in quantum field theory and in the advancement of Mathematics at Imperial College London. With his student, Riazuddin, Salam made important contributions to the modern theory on neutrinos, neutron stars and black holes, as well as the work on modernising quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. As a teacher and science promoter, Salam is remembered as a founder and scientific father of mathematical and theoretical physics in Pakistan during his term as the chief scientific advisor to the president. Salam heavily contributed to the rise of Pakistani physics within the global physics community. Up until shortly before his death, Salam continued to contribute to physics, and to advocate for the development of science in third-world countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Abdus Salam was a Pakistani theoretical physicist who shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the electroweak unification theory.
Abdus Salam made significant contributions to theoretical and particle physics, including the Pati–Salam model, magnetic photon, vector meson, Grand Unified Theory, and the electroweak theory, for which he won the Nobel Prize.
Abdus Salam was the scientific advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology in Pakistan from 1960 to 1974, during which he played a major role in developing the country’s science infrastructure. He was the founding director of SUPARCO and responsible for establishing the Theoretical Physics Group.
In 1974, Abdus Salam departed from Pakistan in protest after the Parliament of Pakistan passed a bill declaring members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, to which Salam belonged, as non-Muslim.
In 1998, following the country’s Chagai-I nuclear tests, the Government of Pakistan issued a commemorative stamp, as a part of ,Scientists of Pakistan,, to honor the services of Abdus Salam.
Abdus Salam made significant contributions to quantum field theory, the advancement of mathematics at Imperial College London, and the modern theory on neutrinos, neutron stars, and black holes, as well as the work on modernizing quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.
Salam heavily contributed to the rise of Pakistani physics within the global physics community and is remembered as a founder and scientific father of mathematical and theoretical physics in Pakistan during his term as the chief scientific advisor.
6 Quotes by Abdus Salam
- 1.
Soon I knew the craft of experimental physics was beyond me – it was the sublime quality of patience – patience in accumulating data, patience with recalcitrant equipment – which I sadly lacked.
Abdus Salamtheoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient
- 2.
From time immemorial, man has desired to comprehend the complexity of nature in terms of as few elementary concepts as possible.
Abdus Salamtheoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient
- 3.
Scientific thought and its creation is the common and shared heritage of mankind.
Abdus Salamtheoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient
- 4.
In this respect, the history of science, like the history of all civilization, has gone through cycles.
Abdus Salamtheoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient
- 5.
The creation of Physics is the shared heritage of all mankind. East and West, North and South have equally participated in it.
Abdus Salamtheoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient
- 6.
Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.
Abdus Salamtheoretical physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics recipient