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​In celebration of the International Day of Light 2025 and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the LAMBDA Physics Group at the University of Jordan (UJ) hosted Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Anne L’Huillier, in a distinguished public webinar held on Friday, May 16, 2025.

This global scientific event, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the LAMBDA Physics Group and the 60th anniversary of the School of Science at the University of Jordan, was organized as part of the group’s ongoing efforts to promote scientific outreach and public engagement in physics.

The webinar, titled “Anne L’Huillier: From a Little Girl in Paris to a Nobel Laureate in Lund”, was moderated by Professor Hanan Sa’adeh, Professor of Atomic and Molecular Physics at UJ and Founding Supervisor of the LAMBDA Physics Group. Sa’adeh introduced the guest of honor with an in-depth reflection on her scientific journey, emphasizing the intellectual rigor and early passion that defined her path toward the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. She drew parallels between L’Huillier and iconic figures in science such as Marie Curie and Theodore Maiman, highlighting the inspirational qualities they share.

Dean of the School of Science, Prof. Mahmoud Jaghoub, delivered opening remarks in which he expressed UJ’s appreciation for L’Huillier’s participation and praised the LAMBDA Physics Group for its decade-long contributions to scientific awareness. “We are honored by L’Huillier’s presence at this important event,” he stated, reaffirming the School’s commitment to academic excellence and science communication.

The session featured an introductory overview of the LAMBDA Physics Group, presented by student member Reem Saif, who outlined the group’s outreach accomplishments and vision for future expansion beyond the university.

In her keynote talk, L’Huillier offered an engaging and accessible introduction to attosecond science—an area of research that enabled her to share the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. She discussed the generation and measurement of attosecond pulses and their applications in exploring electron dynamics, emphasizing the central role of laser physics in this groundbreaking field. Reflecting on the historical development of laser technologies, she paid tribute to the generations of scientists whose foundational work shaped today’s advances.

L’Huillier responded to a range of questions from the international audience, addressing the scientific, educational, and personal dimensions of her career. She spoke candidly about the challenges she faced as a woman in physics, the importance of perseverance and passion in science, and her belief in the value of mentorship and science outreach. She emphasized that while the Nobel Prize recognizes specific discoveries, true scientific achievement lies in the pursuit of impactful and rigorous research.

In her closing remarks, Sa’adeh expressed the university’s deep gratitude for L’Huillier’s inspiring participation, while student Reem Saif concluded with a heartfelt tribute, stating: “Your research has brought us closer to understanding the fundamental nature of reality and time. This is truly remarkable.”

The webinar attracted over 200 participants from across the globe, including students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts representing more than 25 countries. The event recording is available on the LAMBDA Physics Group’s official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1nVFlRmZu8.

Prof. Anne L’Huillier currently serves as Professor of Atomic Physics at Lund University, Sweden. She obtained her PhD in Physics from the University of Pierre and Marie Curie in France. Her research focuses on the interaction of atoms with intense laser fields, and she has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and international academy memberships. In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz, for their pioneering work in developing experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light to study electron dynamics in matter.

It is noteworthy that the LAMBDA Physics Group, established in 2015 under the supervision of Prof. Hanan Sa’adeh, is a volunteer-based initiative that aims to promote scientific literacy and communicate the beauty of physics to diverse audiences within and beyond the University of Jordan.