BATON ROUGE — A former Southern University professor contributed to research tied to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the project at the center of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Ali R. Fazely collaborated with University of Wisconsin–Madison physicist Francis Halzen, who received the prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for his contributions to the observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. The American Institute of Physics announced the recognition Oct. 6.

The observatory is at the South Pole and uses more than 5,000 optical sensors embedded in approximately 1 cubic kilometer of Antarctic ice to detect faint flashes of light produced when neutrinos interact with matter. The discovery gave scientists a new way to study distant cosmic events beyond traditional observations using light.

Fazely has led Southern's IceCube-related research activities since 1997, working with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and scientific collaborators. His team's work has focused on detector simulations, rare particle decays, supernova neutrinos and high-energy neutrino interaction cross sections.

Fazely said Southern's participation in the international collaboration highlights the role historically Black colleges and universities can play in advancing scientific research.

"Southern University's participation demonstrates that HBCUs can be active contributors to these efforts, not simply observers of discoveries made elsewhere," Ali R. Fazely said.

Fazely said two students, Cheng Guo and Aaron Richard, completed Master of Science degrees through IceCube-related research, while graduate student Justin Mitchell is currently involved in the program.