Joint statement from the University of Western Australia and The University of Queensland: Sean Barrett

On behalf of The University of Western Australia (UWA) and The University of Queensland (UQ), we wish to express our profound sadness at the sudden death of young scientist, Dr Sean Barrett, early on Friday morning. We also extend our sincere condolences to the family of Mr Kuldeep Singh, the young taxi driver who was driving Sean, and whose life was also tragically ended.

Dr Sean Barrett had just arrived in Perth from the UK. He was to give an invited presentation at a conference on Quantum Physics being jointly organised by UWA and UQ.

Sean was an outstanding young physicist funded by a Royal Society Fellowship at Imperial College, London. He was making significant impacts in the research field for which he had so much enthusiasm and passion.

Sean was a graduate of Churchill College at the University of Cambridge, where he also completed his PhD, and went on to hold prestigious research positions at Hewlett-Packard Labs in Bristol, UK and Macquarie University.

He left an enduring impression on colleagues at UQ, where he was employed early in his exceptional career, and he maintained valuable collaborations with UQ researchers.

Sean’s strength of character and insight drew colleagues and friends to him throughout his life. He was at the height of his career and leaves behind an outstanding research record. His tragic and sudden death is a profound loss to the research community.

The conference at which he was to present will go ahead and will be dedicated to the memory of Sean. During the conference, his close colleagues will revisit his work and remember his life.

Sean will be deeply missed. The Universities of Western Australia and Queensland extend our deepest sympathies to Sean’s family and friends.

- Professor Peter Høj , Vice-Chancellor and President, The University of Queensland
- Professor Bill Louden, Acting Vice-Chancellor, The University of Western Australia

MEDIA: Tegan Taylor (The University of Queensland) on +61 413 601 248 or Janine MacDonald (The University of Western Australia) on +61 432 637 716 or visit www.smp.uq.edu.au