By Carla Adeline Via
Silliman University (SU) alumnus Dr. Marvin Flores claimed a historic feat as a member of the global researcher team honored with the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
While based in the Philippines, Flores took part in the ATLAS experiment under the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN), an extensive collaboration among scientists worldwide.
Their team used the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to figure out missing ingredients in the Standard Model which is the current theoretical framework that explains the “most fundamental constituents of the universe.”
The LHC, located in the 27-kilometer underground tunnel beneath the borders of France and Switzerland, is the world’s most powerful particle accelerator constructed by CERN.
According to Flores, although the award is usually given to individual scientists, they had to cooperate with many researchers as the experiment “could not be afforded by a single university or country.”
“Gone are the days when the frontiers of particle physics [are] pushed by the genius of a single person,” Flores stated.
He added that the award recognizes the value of collaboration and can be viewed as a paradigm shift wherein scientific progress results from a team effort rather than the endeavor of one individual.
“Oftentimes, our contributions get dismissed since we are just among thousands after all, so I am glad that this prize gets what it takes to be in a scientific collaboration such as those in CERN,” he explained.
Flores graduated summa cum laude at SU with Bachelor of Science in Physics and finished his graduate studies at the National Institute of Physics (NIP) in the University of the Philippines – Diliman.
Flores’ time as a student
When asked about his college life, Flores reflected on his memorable experiences as a Sillimanian.
He mentioned that he was inspired not only by the Math Department professors but also by the literature instructors whose classes he enjoyed.
In a message for aspiring scientists at SU, Flores emphasized the importance of “enjoying everyday moments, not just the big momentous ones.”
“As early as college, ask yourself the following question: If you win the lottery tomorrow […] would you still be doing science? If the answer is yes, then you get it. You know how fulfilling a career in science can be,” he said.
Currently, Flores is taking part in an effort to create the ATLAS Philippine Cluster wherein universities in the country with physics undergraduate studies including SU can be involved in research at the CERN.
“The only ATLAS involvement in the Philippines is only based at NIP so we really hope to change that,” he stressed.
Flores is currently advising around 17 students in order to produce more Filipino physicists.
