C. W. Chu

Dr. Paul C. W. Chu currently serves as Professor of Physics, T. L. L. Temple Chair of Science, and Founding Director and Chief Scientist of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston; and as Honorary Chancellor of the Taiwan Comprehensive University System. He is President Emeritus and University Professor Emeritus of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He has been working on the physics of superconductivity and related materials for more than 40 years. In January 1987, he and colleagues achieved superconductivity at 93 K (-180 °C), above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (-196 °C), making its commercialization more practical, and they continue to hold the current record high transition temperature of 164 K (-109 °C) in another stable compound when compressed. Presently, he is actively engaged in the basic and applied research of high temperature superconductivity, as well as magnetism and dielectrics. His work has resulted in the publication of more than 700 papers in refereed journals. He has been elected to several prestigious national academies of science of the U.S. and other countries; has received numerous awards, including the U.S. National Medal of Science; and has served on many professional committees.