Black Hole Expert Roy Kerr Honoured in Nice

One of the world’s most brilliant mathematicians, New Zealander Roy Kerr, 81, has been awarded the Crafoord Prize for his work on black holes. With an award of US$700,000 the prize is one of the world’s biggest scientific accolades.

The Crafoord Prize recognises and promotes research in the scientific disciplines that are not eligible under the Nobel Prize. It is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to outstanding individuals in the fields of astronomy and mathematics, biosciences, geosciences or polyarthritis research. The prize is presented by the King and Queen of Sweden each May.

Since its creation in 1982, only six astronomers and astrophysicists have been awarded the Crafoord Prize, with Kerr the seventh.

Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi has applauded Kerr for his work with the International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics Network based in Nice.

“I want to congratulate Professor Roy Kerr, the New Zealand mathematician and physicist, for obtaining the prestigious Crafoord Prize which has rewarded his work on black holes and astrophysical consequences,” Mayor Estrosi said.

Kerr was born in Kurow. He is best known for discovering the Kerr vacuum, an exact solution to the Einstein field equation of general relativity.

In 2013, Kerr was honoured by the Albert Einstein Society in Switzerland winning the Albert Einstein Medal. He is the first New Zealander to receive the prestigious award.

Original article by The Riviera Times, January 22, 2016.