UC Santa Barbara students, staff jubilant after professor’s Nobel Prize win

Students and staff at UC Santa Barbara were delighted Tuesday after learning that one of their professors had been awarded a Nobel Prize in physics.

They said it would boost the campus’ academic standing and help them shed their collective grief over last spring’s deadly off-campus shooting in Isla Vista.

Shuji Nakamura, a professor of materials and of electrical and computer engineering at UC Santa Barbara, was named a co-winner with two Japanese scientists for devising a blue light-emitting diode that paved the way for energy-efficient LED lighting.

On the main road leading to the beachside campus Tuesday, an electronic sign at the entrance flashed the message: “Congratulations Nobel Laureate Shuji Nakamura.”

“It just shows the shooting and other instances or assaults don’t define us,” said Paula Mo, 20, a third-year psychology student from San Leandro. “It definitely makes us stronger, and will help us put the past behind us.”

She said the Nobel win may also give UC Santa Barbara a reputation as more than a “party school.”

“This a great school where everyone is committed to and passionate about learning,” she said. “Now I feel even more proud to be here.”

Some students said the news is just what the campus needs after the May rampage that left six UC Santa Barbara students and shooter Elliot Rodger dead.

“It’ll allow us to let go of some of the tension,” said Ming-Feng Hsieh, 28, a graduate student in chemical engineering.

He said he often sees Nakamura in the cafeteria but doesn’t know him personally.

“I didn’t expect someone I see so often to win the Nobel Prize. I feel so proud of the UCSB community,” Hsieh said.

Davide Bisi, 28, a graduate student from Italy who is studying electronics, said Nobel Prize winners often are recognized for theoretical work, but this is something everyone can relate to.

Fellow Nobel Prize laureate Herbert Kroemer, retired from UC Santa Barbara’s electrical and computer engineering department, came to campus Tuesday to support his former colleague.

“People can understand and see the real application in this,” Bisi said.

Bisi’s friend, Marco Todescato, also from Italy and a grad student in control engineering said UC Santa Barbara students are fortunate to be able to learn under people like Nakamura.

“I think it’s just amazing that people like this work and teach at UCSB,” said Todescato, 25.

“It’s fabulous,” said Kroemer, 86, who was awarded the prize in 2000 for his work in physics. “Shuji has the courage to try things that other people wouldn’t even dream of doing.”

Tresa Pollock, chair of the UC Santa Barbara materials department, congratulated her colleague.

“I think people have not yet realized what a big deal this is,” Pollock said of Nakamura’s research on LEDs. “It’s huge.”
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