Karen Hallberg

Karen Hallberg
Born	(1964-05-10) May 10, 1964 Rosario, Argentina
Occupation(s)	Physicist, academic
Known for	Secretary General of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; 2019 L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science laureate

Karen Astrid Hallberg (born May 10, 1964) is an Argentine physicist and academic affiliated with the Balseiro Institute and the Bariloche Atomic Centre. She holds the position of secretary general at the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and was honored with the 2019 International L'Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science for the Latin American region.

Early life and education

Hallberg was born in Rosario, Argentina and relocated to San Salvador de Jujuy when she was two years old. There, she attended several public educational institutions, including Belgrano School and Colegio Nacional de Jujuy. Nicknamed “señorita por qué” ('Miss why'), she established a science club exclusively for girls. During her adolescence, she also competed in tennis at a high level.

Initially enrolling in electronic engineering at the National University of Rosario, Hallberg later received a scholarship from the National Atomic Energy Commission that enabled her to pursue physics studies at the Instituto Balseiro, part of the National University of Cuyo. At this institute, she collaborated with Francisco de la Cruz on research related to superconductivity. She completed her doctoral studies under the supervision of Dr. Carlos Balseiro, concentrating on computational approaches to quantum materials characterized by low-dimensional magnetism and superconducting properties.

When Hallberg joined the Bariloche Atomic Centre, women represented merely 8% of the student population.

Research and career

Following her doctoral degree, Hallberg undertook postdoctoral research at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research and the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems. She returned to the Bariloche Atomic Centre in 1997, dedicating her efforts to computational simulations aimed at exploring quantum matter phenomena such as conductivity, superconductivity, and magnetism. She leads the condensed matter theory group within the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) at Bariloche and conducts research through Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). Additionally, she holds Senior Associate roles at both the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and its South American branch, ICTP-SAIFR.

Her scientific contributions include advancing numerical methodologies like the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG), which she applies to study strongly correlated bosonic and fermionic systems in low dimensions. Hallberg’s investigations span superconductivity, magnetic ordering, spin-orbit interactions in complex compounds, as well as electronic transport phenomena in nanoscale devices. Her collaborative network extends internationally to institutions such as the Indian Institute of Sciences (Bangalore), Oxford University, London Center for Nanotechnology, University of Augsburg, University of Fribourg, Boston University, Argonne National Laboratory, and University of Tokyo.

Advocacy and academic service

Hallberg actively promotes dismantling institutional obstacles and enhancing support mechanisms for women pursuing scientific careers. In recognition of these efforts, she was awarded the 2019 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award. She also stresses the importance of broadening access to scientific education across varied socioeconomic backgrounds and values the role of educators.

A committed advocate for nuclear disarmament, Hallberg fulfills the role of secretary general at the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and serves on the Advisory Board of International Student Young Pugwash (ISYP). She is a proponent of scientific ethics, having contributed to Argentina’s former Committee on Ethics in Science and Technology (CECTE).

Her leadership experience encompasses membership on the board of the American Physical Society (APS), participation in the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Quantum Applications, advisory duties at Brazil’s International Institute of Physics, and directorship at the Bunge and Born Foundation. She also serves on editorial boards including Physical Review Research (APS) and has acted as editor for Europhysics Letters.

Previously, Hallberg has directed the Condensed Matter Department at Bariloche’s Atomic Center; chaired the Latin American Center of Physics (CLAF); held Vice Chair responsibilities for IUPAP’s Low Temperature Commission; coordinated Women in Physics and Ethics subcommittees within the Argentine Physical Association; and represented Argentina at the International Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter (ICAM).

Awards and distinctions

Her recognitions and accolades comprise:

• Secretary General of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
• 2019 Laureate of the L'Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science
• Honorary membership at the Argentine Center for Engineering
• Corresponding member of Argentina's National Academy of Exact and Natural Sciences
• Member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences (ACAL)
• Honorary Doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from both the National University of Jujuy and Universidad Siglo 21, Argentina
• Honorable Mentions awarded by the Argentine Senate under the titles "Senator Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" and "Juana Azurduy de Padilla"
• Commendations from the Argentine Chamber of Deputies as well as from the legislatures of Río Negro and Chaco provinces
• Designated Illustrious Citizen of Jujuy province and Distinguished Citizen of San Salvador de Jujuy city
• Awarded the title "Bachiller de Honor" by Colegio Nacional High School, San Salvador de Jujuy
• Recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2007
• Special Mention in 2008 by L'Oréal and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council for contributions to quantum properties in nanoscale systems
• Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar in 2012

Personal life

Hallberg is married to physicist Ingo Allekotte, with whom she shares two children. Additionally, she is an avid cellist.

External links

• Tedx Bariloche presentation (September 21, 2019)
• Public Lecture: "The fascinating and weird world of quantum matter", Perimeter Institute, Canada, December 2, 2020