Professor Ian Shipsey (1959–2024)

St Catherine’s College is deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Professor Ian Shipsey, Henry Moseley Centenary Professor of Experimental Physics, at the age of 65.

Ian was a Professorial Fellow at St Catherine’s and Head of the Department of Physics at Oxford. An  experimental particle physicist, Ian’s work focused on uncovering the fundamental mysteries of the universe. His research spanned the study of heavy quarks and the Higgs Boson, as well as the search for dark matter and investigations into dark energy. He was also instrumental in developing cutting-edge instrumentation, including the pixel detector that played a critical role in identifying the Higgs Boson for the first time.

Ian’s scientific achievements earned him widespread recognition, including his election as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2002 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012. He held many prestigious leadership positions throughout his career, including Chairperson of the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment at CERN, co-coordinator of the LHC Physics Center at Fermilab, and co-Spokesperson of the CLEO experiment at Cornell University.

Despite being deaf, Ian’s hearing was restored through a cochlear implant, an experience that sparked his passion for public outreach. He gave numerous talks and lectures on hearing and cochlear implants, sharing his personal journey and inspiring many. His talk, Bionic Hearing: the Science and the Experience can be found on the Oxford Physics Public Lectures here.

Ian’s contributions to St Catherine’s and the wider scientific community are immeasurable. His warmth, dedication to teaching, and collaborative spirit will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

The University has opened a book of condolence for Ian, which can be read and signed here.