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We are pleased to announce that Christoph Gerber—Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Basel and a pioneer of scanning probe microscopy—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanomechanical microcantilever biosensing, as well as the methodological impact of his highly sensitive characterization of biomolecular interactions in the life sciences.
Professor Gerber has long advanced research and academic leadership at the University of Basel and across Switzerland’s nanoscale science ecosystem. As a co-inventor of AFM, he expanded the field from imaging to biosensing, pioneering the use of microcantilever arrays for label-free detection of interactions among DNA, proteins, and other biomolecules, thereby establishing mechanistic and translational foundations for immunosensing and mutation detection. His nanomechanical measurement paradigm has fostered deep cross-fertilization among physics, chemistry, and the life sciences, and has had a lasting influence on biomedical diagnostics and the standardization of nanotechnology.
- Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem
The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.
- About WAAC
The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.