UC President James B. Milliken statement on UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara Nobel Prize in physics winners

University of California President James B. Milliken released today (Oct. 7) the statement below following the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics, which was awarded to 3 UC professors: John Clarke, an emeritus professor of physics at UC Berkeley, Michel H. Devoret, a professor at UC Santa Barbara and Yale, and John M. Martinis, an emeritus professor at UC Santa Barbara. They received the prize for their experiments with an electrical circuit in which they demonstrated both quantum mechanical tunnelling and quantized energy levels in a system big enough to be held in the hand.

"Congratulations to physicists John Clarke of UC Berkeley and Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis of UC Santa Barbara on winning the 2025 Nobel Prize in physics. Their research has opened the door to the next generation of quantum technologies, including quantum cryptography, computers, and sensors-breakthroughs that will change how we do everything from discovering new drugs to stopping destructive cyberattacks.

"With today's recognition, Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis join a long line of esteemed UC faculty who have won a remarkable 74 Nobel Prizes, including 23 in physics. These awards are not only great honors-they are tangible evidence of the work happening across the University of California every day to expand knowledge, test the boundaries of science, and conduct research that improves our lives. I'm proud to see their work recognized."

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