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Many of Simon Watkins’ knee-high admirers will think it’s high time when the Simon Fraser University physicist is formally recognized as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in March. Kids of all ages across British Columbia, even preschoolers, know Watkins as the friendly scientist who makes stuff go snap, crackle, pop.

It’s no surprise to them that the APS, the world’s largest association of physicists, is making Watkins a Fellow because of his pioneering contributions to physics. The group, annually, recognizes less than half of one percent of its 42,000 members in academia, government and industry membership as fellows.

Watkins was part of a dynamic scientific duo that created the world’s fastest bipolar transistor, a microscopic device that is the driving component of today’s fastest electronic network analysers.

Watkins’ creation of microscopic crystals with specially engineered chemical, optical and electrical properties enabled Colombo Bolognesi, a former associate professor of engineering science at SFU, now at the University of Switzerland, to develop the transistor.

The duo’s invention earned them a Science Council of British Columbia award in 2001 for producing scientific and technological research that promotes economic development and new employment in B.C.

Watkins is now using his facility with crystals to transform zinc oxide, a familiar sunscreen compound, into a semiconductor that could make current scientific lighting technologies more efficient and economical.

“There’s a huge interest in using zinc oxide as a semiconductor because the elements currently used to make white light emitting diodes are becoming increasingly rare,” explains Watkins. “Also, the manufacturing process for making zinc oxide is substantially less toxic.”

As laudable as Watkins’ work with crystals is, it’s his physical wizardry in classrooms, workshops and open houses that has won him grassroots acclaim. During his 17 years at SFU, Watkins has engineered and hosted more than 70 science events for kindergarten to Grade 12 students and aspiring science teachers.

“As the father of three children, I really believe that it’s important for scientists to share the excitement of their work with students. However, I have to admit,” confesses Watkins, “that I have always been a show-off. I remember authoring and proudly presenting encyclopedic writings about science in Grade three. I consider this award, which I value greatly, a recognition of my lifetime of bragging about science.”

Watkins is among a handful of SFU professors elected an APS Fellow. SFU Science Dean Michael Plischke became one in 2006.

Note: Watkins is a Coquitlam resident

—30— (electronic photo file available)

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