Mark Welland is a nanoscientist and engineer whose work has enabled considerable advances in the field of nanotechnology. Through the development of new experimental techniques, he has made it possible to determine the mechanical properties of individual molecules, and to assemble new nanoscale materials via the direct manipulation of atoms.
His scientific career began at the New York offices of IBM Research, where Mark was part of the team that designed one of the world’s first scanning tunnelling microscopes. He then moved to the University of Cambridge to found the Nanoscience Centre — an interdisciplinary research collaboration that has yielded wide-ranging practical applications. From 2008 to 2011, he also acted as Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Ministry of Defence.
Mark’s significant contributions to nanotechnology research led to his election as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2002, and to the award of a knighthood in 2011. In the same year, he was also awarded the Office of the Secretary Defence Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
Professional position
- Advisory Council member, Lloyd's Register Foundation
Subject groups
- Engineering
Engineering, electrical
- Astronomy and physics
Magnetism
- Other
Public understanding of science
