Andrew Chew, a senior scientist in the Vacuum Research Department at Edwards, has been appointed visiting professor of physics at King’s College London. The Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering is thereby recognizing his contributions to vacuum research as well as his long-standing commitment to collaboration with the university.
The appointment underscores the importance of collaboration between industry and academia for the development of new technologies. The joint research focuses on next-generation vacuum technologies that can be applied in various scientific and industrial fields.
Collaboration in Vacuum Research
For years, Chew has combined his work at Edwards with research collaborations in the academic sphere. The goal is to bring together scientific questions with engineering expertise and to translate developments into practical applications more quickly. Particularly in vacuum technology—which forms a central foundation for numerous research and production processes—such collaborations are considered key drivers of innovation.
“It is an honor to have been appointed a visiting professor at King’s College London,” said Andrew Chew. “This appointment recognizes what can be achieved when academia and industry share knowledge, exchange ideas, and work together to solve scientific challenges.”
According to King’s College, the distinction is also notable because it is the first time in ten years that the department has awarded such a visiting professorship. James Millen, professor of physics at King’s College London, described the collaboration with Chew as “exciting and enriching.” He noted that the opportunity to jointly advance research from its fundamental stages all the way to practical application is particularly valuable.
Significance for Research and the Next Generation
The visiting professorship is intended to further strengthen existing ties between the university and industry. This opens up additional opportunities for future research projects and for the training of the next generation of scientists. Collaborations of this kind are growing in importance because scientific and technical challenges are becoming increasingly complex and require interdisciplinary approaches.
For Edwards, the appointment is also a visible sign of the role of vacuum research at the intersection of basic science and industrial application. King’s College London is one of the world’s most renowned universities and has a strong research base in the natural sciences and engineering. The collaboration with Edwards is intended to help translate new findings in vacuum technology into concrete applications more quickly.