Tomoki Ozawa received the Frontier Salon Nagase Prize (Special Prize)

Prof. Tomoki Ozawa, Professor at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, and Visiting Scientist at iTHEMS, has been awarded the 15th Frontier Salon Nagase Prize (Special Prize) by the Frontier Salon Foundation. This award honors outstanding young researchers who are expected to pioneer the future of science and technology and potentially become future Nobel laureates.

Prof. Ozawa is a theoretical physicist working in condensed matter physics. He applies the mathematical concept of topology, which focuses on the “shape” of systems, to discover universal physical principles shared among diverse systems—from metals and gases to light, sound, and even biological structures. His recent work extends these ideas into higher-dimensional topological frameworks, exploring new quantum states of light and matter. These studies are expected to contribute to the development of next-generation quantum and photonic technologies.

To commemorate the award, Prof. Ozawa delivered a lecture titled “Horizons of Physics Opened by Topology: Beyond Matter and Dimensions” at the Science Seminar for High School Students held on September 26, 2025, where he introduced the beauty of topological physics and inspired young students with the joy of discovery.