/ Medals and awards

Clifford Paterson Medal and Lecture

This prize lecture is given on a subject in the field of engineering.

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The award

The Clifford Paterson Medal and Lecture is given for outstanding contributions in the field of engineering. The lectureship was originally endowed by The General Electric Company in memory of Clifford Paterson FRS, who founded the GEC Research Laboratories in 1919. Originally the lectures were given on electrical science and technology but this was later broadened to any aspect of engineering. The first lecture was given in 1975. The medal is of bronze, is awarded biennially and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. 

Eligibility

The Clifford Paterson medal and lecture is open to UK/Commonwealth/Republic of Ireland citizens or those who have been residents for three or more years. There are no restrictions on career stage and nominations will remain valid and shall be considered by the award selection committee throughout three nomination cycles. 

Nominations are now open

Nominations are now open and will close on 21 February 2025. 

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Past winners

  • Mohan Edirisinghe
    Awarded in 2024

    Professor Mohan Edirisinghe

    For seminal research in engineering science of making small structures from soft matter in novel scalable ways, creating new frontiers in functional applications causing major advances in manufacturing and healthcare.
  • Anne Neville
    Awarded in 2022

    Professor Anne Neville OBE FREng FRS

    For her innovative research into corrosion and tribology and the successful application of this to wide-ranging, real life, engineering problems.
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    Awarded in 2020

    Dr Jacqueline Cole

    For the development of photo-crystallography and the discovery of novel high-performance nonlinear optical materials and light-harvesting dyes using molecular design rules.
  • Timothy Leighton
    Awarded in 2018

    Professor Timothy Leighton FREng FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'The acoustic bubble: climate change, spaceships, dolphins, and the antibiotic apocalypse'.
  • Russell Cowburn
    Awarded in 2016

    Professor Russell Cowburn FRS

    For his remarkable academic, technical and commercial achievements in nano-magnetics.
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    Awarded in 2013

    Professor Polina Bayvel CBE FREng FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Communicating with light'.
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    Awarded in 2012

    Dame Molly Stevens DBE FREng FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Regenerating organs and other small challenges'.
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    Awarded in 2011

    Professor S. Ravi P. Silva CBE FREng

    Delivered lecture: 'Carbon electronics'.
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    Awarded in 2010

    Sir David MacKay FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Information theory meets writing'.
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    Awarded in 2009

    Professor Andrew De Mello

    Delivered lecture: 'The Lilliput laboratory: chemistry & biology on the small scale'.
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    Awarded in 2008

    Professor Martin Plenio

    Delivered lecture: 'Taming the quanta'.
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    Awarded in 2006

    Sir Richard Friend FREng FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Plastic fantastic; electronics for the 21st Century. The lecture can be viewed from the Video Library'.