UP Researches Earn Global Recognition with Breakthrough Physics Prize

ATLAS Detector, one of the major particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider Photo Credit: 2005CERN

Two University of Pretoria researchers, Professors Lerothodi Leeuw and Muaaz Bhamjee, have helped South Africa make scientific history, earning global recognition for their work on CERN’s groundbreaking ATLAS experiment in Switzerland.

Pretoria, South Africa (30 October 2025) – The University of Pretoria (UP) is celebrating a major international achievement after two of its researchers were recognised among the world’s best in physics. Professors Lerothodi Leeuw and Muaaz Bhamjee have been awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, together with scientists from CERN, for their contribution to the ATLAS experiment. One of the largest and most ambitious scientific collaborations in the world.

Professors Leeuw and Bhamjee are part of SA-ATLAS, South Africa’s team working with CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva. The LHC is a 27km underground ring that propels particles to almost the speed of light to help scientists understand how the universe works. Through this project, the UP team contributes to searching for dark matter (the mysterious material believed to make up most of the universe) and upgrading the powerful ATLAS detector that records over a billion particle collisions every second.

“To be part of research and an international team searching for currently unknown particles that constitute dark matter and the related new physics, as well as being involved in the upgrade of equipment to do so, is phenomenal, not to mention the recognition in the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics,” Prof Leeuw said.

Prof Bhamjee added that the project’s success lies in the spirit of teamwork.

“It is one of the largest collaborative efforts ever attempted in science, with over 5 500 members and almost 3 000 scientific authors. Its success relies on the close collaboration of research teams located at CERN, and at member universities and laboratories worldwide.”

UP only joined the SA-ATLAS collaboration recently, becoming the ninth South African institution to be part of the programme hosted by iThemba LABS under the National Research Foundation. Prof Bhamjee, who also serves as UP’s institutional representative in the collaboration, believes this milestone strengthens South Africa’s role in international science.

“It represents an exciting step for UP, enabling its researchers to contribute to impactful, transdisciplinary science around the world, while strengthening local collaborations and showcasing African talent on a global scale.”

For Professor Leeuw, the new Head of Physics at UP, this recognition also marks another chapter in an already remarkable journey. Originally from the Northern Cape, he became the first black South African to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA.

Now, back home Prof Leeuw continues to study how galaxies form and evolve over time. He’s now using his platform to inspire the next generation of physicists. Together, they represent the intersection of physics and engineering. Showing how cross-disciplinary teamwork can drive discovery on a global stage.