University Professor awarded for ‘unrivalled’ cosmology research

A University of Portsmouth Professor of Cosmology has been awarded a prize from one of the top theoretical physics institutes in Japan.

Professor Kazuya Koyama, from the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, has been recognised for his research on the cosmological test of gravity, which is unrivalled worldwide. 

He received the award from the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics in Kyoto, Japan, last week.

He said: “It has been 20 years since I moved to Portsmouth from Japan, and it is an honour to receive this prestigious award from Kyoto University where I did my PhD. I am also awarded an affiliate professorship at the Yukawa Institute from April and this award will strengthen my close collaboration with top researchers in Japan.”  

Professor Koyama’s research interests lie in theoretical cosmology, particularly the origin of structure in our universe and the late time acceleration of the universe. 

He has received worldwide recognition for his work exploring unique perspectives of the universe and gravity, addressing complex issues in physics and cosmology, and has been awarded for his accomplishments in areas including brane cosmology.

Brane cosmology suggests the four-dimensional space-time in which we live is actually a membrane embedded in a higher-dimensional space-time. It has taken the world by storm because of its novel picture of the universe and its potential for solving a particle physics problem. 

Professor Koyama, in collaboration with Professor Roy Maartens from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, correctly calculated the evolution of cosmological perturbations in brane cosmology and gave an observational prediction for the cosmic microwave background radiation. He has also highlighted the impact of gravity in higher dimensions on the membrane (brane) and its effect on density fluctuations. 

The Yukawa-Kimura Prize was established in 2007. It is named after Professor Toshiei Kimura who made many important, pioneering contributions to theoretical physics, especially in the fields of general relativity, gravitation and cosmology.

Professor Tadashi Takayanagi from The Yukawa Institute, said: “Professor Koyama’s research style, which begins with a detailed examination of fundamental theories and ends with the test of gravity theories through comparison of observational data of the large-scale structure of the universe and the cosmic microwave background radiation, is unrivalled worldwide.

“He is expected to continue to play a leading role as the world's leading researcher in cosmology and gravity theory, and is truly deserving of the Yukawa-Kimura Prize.”

Professor Koyama received a certificate, medal and 600,000 Japanese yen. Further details on his award-winning research can be found here.