Scientific Talk - Prod. Dr. Pawel Hawrylak

On May 30, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) welcomed Prof. Dr. Pawel Hawrylak for a scientific talk titled “Synthetic Topological Quantum Matter.” Dr. Mikhail Vasilevskiy hosted the event.

In his presentation, Prof. Hawrylak explored how researchers are designing new types of materials to better understand and control the behaviour of electrons—a key challenge in developing future quantum technologies. These specially engineered materials are built using tiny building blocks called quantum dots, which can be made from semiconductors or graphene.

Toward the end of the talk, Prof. Hawrylak presented a potential real-world application: a sensitive strain detector that works by measuring changes in the material’s structure at the quantum level. This type of sensor can be applied in various fields, ranging from materials science to engineering.

Prof. Hawrylak is a Professor of Physics at the University of Ottawa, where he holds a research chair in Quantum Theory of Materials, Nanostructures and Devices. Over the years, he has been recognised with numerous international awards for his contributions to the field, including the Humboldt Research Prize, the CAP Brockhouse Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He is a Fellow of both the American Physical Society and the Royal Society of Canada.

The talk was part of INL’s broader commitment to bringing leading voices in science to share the latest developments and inspire ongoing research in nanotechnology and quantum science.