Abdus Salam Library named in honour of leading physicist | Imperial News

Imperial’s Central Library will be named the Abdus Salam Library in recognition of the Nobel Prize winning physicist.

I hope the new Abdus Salam Library inspires many more people in the years to come. Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London

Writing to Imperial’s staff and students, President Hugh Brady said:  “Throughout his career, the Nobel Prize winning Professor of Theoretical Physics Abdus Salam made a tremendous contribution to Imperial, as well as to the world of physics and science more generally. It is right that we do more to celebrate this legacy. I hope the new Abdus Salam Library inspires many more people in the years to come.”

Imperial’s University Management Board decided to name the Central Library after Professor Salam as part of its ongoing response to the History Group’s report. Published last year, this report focused on Imperial’s associations with historical figures and undercelebrated people from Imperial’s past.  

Recognising the contribution of academics like Professor Salam is a key part of Imperial’s response to this report. Further work is underway to respond to its findings, including other initiatives to recognise undercelebrated individuals like Professor Salam, both physically around our campuses, through portraiture or through scholarships. 

Tremendous contribution

Professor Salam joined Imperial in 1957. During his time here, he set up the Theoretical Physics Department with the late Professor Paul T Matthews. He later shared the 1979 Nobel Prize for his contribution to the electroweak unification theory. 

He was also a passionate promoter of science education in the developing world, founding the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in 1964 where scientists from developing countries would be able to come on a regular basis to interact with leaders in the field. 

A formal launch and naming ceremony for the Abdus Salam Library will take place in the next academic year.