Charpaks

Georges Charpak was a French physicist of Polish origin, renowned for his pioneering contributions to particle detection and his development of innovative detector technologies. Born on August 1, 1924, in Dąbrowica, Poland (then part of the Second Polish Republic), he spent much of his early life in France, where he later became a naturalized citizen. Charpak earned his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of Paris in 1954 and went on to make groundbreaking advancements in experimental particle physics.

One of Charpak’s most significant achievements was the invention of the **multiwire proportional chamber (MWPC)** in 1968, a device that revolutionized particle detection. This technology allowed physicists to track the paths of charged particles with unprecedented precision, significantly enhancing experiments in high-energy physics. For this innovation, Charpak was awarded the **Nobel Prize in Physics in 1992**, which he shared with his colleagues at CERN, including Jim Cronin and Val Logsdon Fitch.

Beyond his scientific work, Charpak was a strong advocate for science education and public understanding of science. He served as the director of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) from 1999 to 2003 and later founded the **European Laboratory for Particle Physics (ELP)** to promote scientific research and education. His efforts extended to humanitarian causes, including the establishment of the **Charpak Foundation**, which supports scientific research in developing countries and encourages young scientists.

Charpak’s legacy endures through his technical contributions, his leadership in global physics research, and his dedication to fostering scientific curiosity worldwide. He passed away on September 29, 2010, in Paris, leaving behind a lasting impact on both particle physics and the broader scientific community.