Tzavta #49 Donna Strickland

We were honoured to host an extraordinary Tzavta Salon on Tuesday, June 18th, with Canadian Nobel Physics Laureate Dr. Donna Strickland for an intimate dinner and conversation with Christina Frangou.

Dr. Strickland’s pioneering work on laser-matter interactions led to the development of new techniques in laser eye surgery and the micromachining of glass used in cell phones, transforming both scientific research and practical technology.

This was a rare opportunity to hear from one of the foremost scientists in the world — a truly incredible, smart, funny, and kick-ass woman whose contributions continue to inspire the next generation of physicists.

DR. DONNA STRICKLAND - GUEST SPEAKER

Dr. Donna Strickland is a Canadian physicist and Nobel Laureate recognized for her groundbreaking work in laser physics. She is a professor at the University of Waterloo, where her research focuses on high-intensity, ultrashort laser pulses. Strickland’s innovations have transformed laser applications in medicine, manufacturing, and communications, earning her international acclaim as a leading figure in experimental physics.

CHRISTINA FRANGOU - MODERATOR

Christina Frangou is an independent journalist who has been recognized with some of Canada’s most prestigious awards for print journalism, including a National Newspaper Award and four National Magazine Awards. She is the 2022 recipient of the Landsberg Award, given by the

Canadian Women’s Foundation and the Canadian Journalism Foundation for her efforts to shed light on gender injustice. Her work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Guardian and Chatelaine, and she is a contributing editor at Maclean’s.

In 2018, she wrote a feature story for The Globe and Mail about two brave Yazidi sisters in Calgary who were desperate to be reunited with their youngest sibling. The story helped lead to the reunification of this family and raised awareness of continued injustices shown to the Yazidi community worldwide.