Jim Al-Khalili

Jim Al-Khalili is an Iraqi-British theoretical physicist, author, and science communicator. He serves as a Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey, where he earned a PhD in nuclear reaction theory. Early in his career, Al-Khalili was awarded an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship, establishing expertise in mathematical models of exotic atomic nuclei. He has published 150 peer-reviewed research papers covering nuclear physics, quantum biology, the foundations of quantum physics, and the history of physics. His research interests include open quantum systems and the application of quantum mechanics in biology.

Al-Khalili has developed a parallel career in science communication, becoming a recognizable scientific voice in the United Kingdom. He has written 14 books on popular science and the history of science, which have been translated into 26 languages. Notable works include "Black Holes, Wormholes and Time Machines," "Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed," "The House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance," and "The World According to Physics." "The World According to Physics" was shortlisted for the Royal Society Book Prize. Al-Khalili has also written fiction, including the science fiction thriller "Sunfall," and published "The Joy of Science," which explores scientific thinking in everyday life.

Al-Khalili is a regular broadcaster and presenter of science programs on BBC radio and television, and frequently comments on science in British media. He presents TV science documentaries such as the BAFTA-nominated "Chemistry: A Volatile History," and hosts the long-running weekly BBC Radio 4 program, "The Life Scientific." He presented the BBC Four series "Science and Islam," which explores scientific advancements in the Islamic world between the 8th and 14th centuries. Al-Khalili has also appeared as an expert in the Philomena Cunk mockumentaries "Cunk on Earth" and "Cunk on Life."

Al-Khalili's contributions to science and public engagement have been recognized with numerous honors. He is a past president of the British Science Association and a recipient of the Royal Society Michael Faraday Medal, the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal, the Institute of Physics Kelvin Medal, and the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication. He has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Al-Khalili was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and later elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to science and public engagement in STEM. He is known for explaining complex concepts in modern physics with historical context, making them accessible to a broad audience.