Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize Medallist 2016
The Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize 2016 is awarded to Professor Neil Alford MBE FREng for his outstanding contributions to materials research with benefit to society, especially the development of ultra-low-loss microwave dielectrics for communications.
Professor Alford will be presented with a medal of silver gilt, and a gift of £2,000 at Anniversary Day on 30 November 2016.
The award
The Prize was established with support from the Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers', a livery company originally comprised of armourers and brass workers. The first award was made in 1985.
The Royal Society Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize is awarded biennially (in even years), for excellence in basic research in functional or structural materials where the research is clearly motivated by use of these materials.
The concept of 'use-inspired basic research' describes research seeking fundamental understanding that is motivated or inspired by considerations of practical use.
Past winners
Professor Ivan Parkin was awarded the 2014 Royal Society Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize in recognition of his insight, synthesis, development and commercialisation of coatings. In particular inorganic-oxide self-cleaning coatings for windows and anti-microbial coatings to combat hospital acquired infections.
Professor Jenny Nelson FRS was awarded the 2012 Royal Society Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize for her theoretical insight into the many factors affecting the fabrication and performance of organic photovoltaics, which has led to the rational design of these devices and related photodetectors based on organic semiconductors.
See full list of all past winners of the Royal Society Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize.