John Goodby is a materials chemist who studies liquid crystals, complex fluids and self-organising systems. His work has a number of varied commercial applications, most notably in the design and development of materials used in modern display devices, and gels and biopolymers for potential applications in biomedical devices.
His many research highlights include the development of the structural classification of smectic liquid crystals, the discovery of many new states of matter including the ‘twist grain boundary phase’ and ‘hexatic’ phases, and elucidation of chiral liquid crystals, including the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phases.
John has received many accolades in recognition of his work such as Honored Membership of the International Liquid Crystal Society in 2010, the Materials for Industry–Derek Birchall Award of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2013, as well as the AkzoNobel UK Science Award in 2014. He has also served in a number of scientific leadership roles, including President of the International Liquid Crystal Society and Chair of the British Liquid Crystal Society.
Professional position
- Chair of Materials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of York
- Steering Committee Member, British Liquid Crystal Society
Subject groups
-
Engineering and Materials Science
Materials science (incl materials engineering)
-
Astronomy and Physics
Condensed matter incl softmatter, liquids, nano-materials
-
Health and Human Sciences
Medical instrumentation
-
Molecules of Life
Biophysics and structural biology
-
Other
Public understanding of science
-
Chemistry
Chemistry, materials
Awards
-
Royal Medal
For his major advances and discoveries of new forms of matter and materials, in particular the development of chiral liquid crystals.
