/ Medals and awards

Hughes Medal

This medal is awarded to an outstanding researcher in the field of energy.

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  • Opening date

  • Closing date

  • Winners announcement

    Exact date TBC

The award

The Hughes Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions in the field of energy. The award was named after the scientist David E Hughes FRS (PDF) and was first awarded in 1902. Hughes was a Welsh-American scientist and musician who invented the first working radio communication system and the first microphone. The medal is of silver gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000.

Eligibility

The Hughes medal 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. Teams or groups may now be nominated for this award.

Nominations are now open

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

2024 winner

  • Professor Linda Faye Nazar FRS FRSC OC

    Professor Linda Faye Nazar FRS FRSC OC

    The Hughes Medal 2024 is awarded to Professor Linda Faye Nazar FRS FRSC OC for her seminal contributions to the field of solid-state electrochemistry, and electrochemical energy storage.

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Past winners

  • Erwin Reisner
    Awarded in 2023

    Professor Erwin Reisner

    For pioneering new concepts and solar technologies for the production of sustainable fuels and chemicals from carbon dioxide, biomass and plastic waste.
  • Saiful Islam
    Awarded in 2022

    Professor Saiful Islam

    For outstanding contributions to the deeper understanding of atomistic processes in new materials for use in energy applications, especially those related to lithium batteries and perovskite solar cells.
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    Awarded in 2021

    Professor John Irvine

    For the introduction of new concepts in Energy Materials science, including novel ionic conductors, electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells, alternative batteries and emergent nanomaterials.
  • Clare Grey
    Awarded in 2020

    Professor Clare Grey FRS

    For her pioneering work on the development and application of new characterization methodology to develop fundamental insight into how batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells operate.
  • Andrew Cooper
    Awarded in 2019

    Professor Andrew Cooper FRS

    For the design and synthesis of new classes of organic materials with applications in energy storage, energy production and energy-efficient separations.
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    Awarded in 2018

    Professor James Durrant CBE FRS

    For his distinguished photochemical studies for the design solar energy devices, particularly by transient spectroscopic studies of dye sensitized solar cells and of photoelectrochemical water splitting.
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    Awarded in 2017

    Sir Peter Bruce FRS

    For his distinguished work elucidating the fundamental chemistry underpinning energy storage.
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    Awarded in 2015

    Professor George Efstathiou FRS

    For many outstanding contributions to our understanding of the early Universe, in particular his pioneering computer simulations, observations of galaxy clustering and studies of the fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background.
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    Awarded in 2013

    Professor Henning Sirringhaus FRS

    For his pioneering development of inkjet printing processes for organic semiconductor devices, and dramatic improvement of their functioning and efficiency.
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    Awarded in 2011

    Professor Matthew Rosseinsky OBE FRS

    For his highly influential discoveries in the synthetic chemistry of solid state electronic materials and novel microporous structures.
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    Awarded in 2010

    Sir Andre Geim FRS

    For his revolutionary discovery of graphene, and elucidation of its remarkable properties.
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    Awarded in 2008

    Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS

    For innovative use of magnetic field data that led to discovery of an atmosphere around one of Saturn's moons and the way it revolutionised our view of the role of planetary moons in the Solar System.