Interview with Daniela Saadeh: winner of the IOP Gravitational Physics Group (GPG) thesis prize
On a much happier note, here is an interview with Daniela Saadeh, who won this year’s IOP Gravitational Physics Thesis Prize.
I’m reblogging this one as I happened to be external examiner for Daniela’s PhD!
Daniela Saadeh – UCL Astrophysics Group
CQG is proud to sponsor the IOP Gravitational Physics Group (GPG) thesis prize. This year the prize was awarded to Daniela Saadeh, who we have interviewed below. Congratulations Daniela!
Can you tell us a little bit about the work in your thesis?
A fundamental assumption of the standard model of cosmology is that the large-scale Universe is isotropic – i.e. that its properties are independent of direction. Historically, this concept stemmed from the Copernican Principle, the philosophical statement that we do not occupy a ‘special’ place in the Universe. In physical terms, this idea is converted into the assumption that all positions and directions in the Universe are equivalent, so that no observer is ‘privileged’.
However, assumptions must be tested, especially foundational ones. General relativity – our standard theory of gravity – allows for many ways in which spacetime could be anisotropic: directional…
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In the Dark 
April 20, 2017 at 1:26 pm
For prizes in gravitational physics this year, wait till October…
April 20, 2017 at 1:28 pm
Yes, I doubt if the bookies will be taking bets this year for the Nobel Prize in Physics. Some of my current colleagues will no doubt be heading to Stockholm for the Party. Sadly, however, one of the three likely winners has passed away…