Commenting on the award of The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics to David Thouless, Duncan Haldane, and Michael Kosterlitz, Jon Trickett MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills said:

“I extend huge congratulations to David Thouless, Duncan Haldane, and Michael Kosterlitz for winning this award. Their pioneering work using topology to explore exotic states of matter is the latest in Britain’s long and proud tradition of generating ground-breaking work in physics – indeed, this is the 23rd Nobel Prize for Physics awarded wholly or partially to British scientists.

“Such triumphs depend on Britain’s university system remaining well-funded and world class – something that the loss of EU research money in the wake of Brexit puts in doubt. With many UK universities increasingly concerned about the loss of projects and a “brain drain”, it is notable that all three winners are now based in the US. Unless the Government guarantees to keep research funding in place, there is a very real prospect that such prizes will become a thing of the past for Britain.”