Awards 2009

The President's medal 2009

Professor Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

In recognition for her work in developing astronomy education in Malaysia and her leading national and international role in space science, through her setting up of the Malaysian Space Agency and as Director of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Full citation.

Isaac Newton medal of the Institute of Physics 2009

Professor Alan H Guth
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For his invention of the inflationary universe model, his recognition that inflation would solve major problems confronting then-standard cosmology, and his calculation, with others, of the spectrum of density fluctuations that gave rise to structure in the universe. Full citation.

Business and Innovation medal of the Institute of Physics 2009

Professor Sir Richard Friend and Dr David Ffye
Cambridge University / Cambridge Display Technology

For guiding the company Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) to a pre-eminent position in the development of light-emitting polymers and in the development of the technology for flat-panel displays and lighting. Full citation.

Dirac medal of the Institute of Physics 2009

Professor Michael Cates
University of Edinburgh

For pioneering work in the theoretical physics of soft materials, particularly in relation to their flow behaviour. Full citation.

Faraday medal of the Institute of Physics 2009

Professor Donal Bradley
Imperial College London

For his pioneering work in the field of ‘plastic electronics’, His experimental investigations have significantly advanced our understanding of the physics of conjugated polymers as semiconductors and helped to demonstrate their widespread application potential. Full citation.

Glazebrook medal of the Institute of Physics 2009

Professor Sir Peter Knight
Imperial College London

For his outstanding contributions to Physics in the UK and globally through both his scholarship as a pre-eminent Atomic and Molecular Optics theoretician and as a charismatic and effective leader of research and research organisations. Full citation.

Bragg medal and prize 2009

Ms Becky Parker
Simon Langton Grammar School

For her work to energise generations of pupils to take up the study of physics; the commitment to raise substantial sums to provide major facilities in astronomy and other branches of physics in her region; and her positive influence on physics education nationally. Full citation.

Kelvin medal and prize 2009

Professor John D Barrow
University of Cambridge

For the promotion and explanation of physics and astronomy to young people and the general public through many books, lectures, broadcasts and drama with special reference to their wider cultural and historical importance. Full citation.

Chadwick medal and prize 2009

Professor Tejinder Virdee
Imperial College London

For his crucial role in the design and construction of CMS; one of the main experiments which start operation at the LHC this year. Full citation.

Joule medal and prize 2009

Professor Jenny Nelson
Imperial College London

For her penetrating theoretical analyses of a range of photovoltaic materials and devices which have had a profound influence on solar cell design. Full citation.

Payne-Gaposchkin medal and prize 2009

Professor Eric Priest
St Andrews University

For his numerous major contributions to many of the unsolved problems in Solar Physics, including Magnetic Reconnection, Coronal Heating, Phasing-Mixing of MHD waves and Solar Flares. Full citation.

Mott medal and prize 2009

Professor Gillian Gehring
University of Sheffield

For her seminal contributions to magnetism. Full citation.

Rayleigh medal and prize 2009

Professor Robin Ball
University of Warwick

For his outstanding contributions to the understanding of diverse complex phenomena associated with growth processes and pattern formation. Full citation.

Tabor medal and prize 2009

Professor Richard Jones
University of Sheffield

For his innovative work characterising polymer surfaces and thin films; and for his more recent work in nanoscience, developing novel polymeric nanostructures and being involved with societal aspects of the field. Full citation.

Young medal and prize 2009

Professor Leslie Allen and Professor Miles Padgett
University of Glasgow

In recognition of their pioneering work on optical angular momentum. Full citation.

Maxwell medal and prize 2009

Dr Dmitry Skryabin
University of Bath

For his contributions to theory and modelling of nonlinear optical processes; in particular for predictions and understanding of effects accompanying interaction of solitons with radiation and generation of ultrabroad spectra in optical fibers. Full citation.

Moseley medal and prize 2009

Dr Matthew Wing
University College London

For his outstanding contributions to the experimental programme of the HERA collider at DESY, the leading experimental facility for studying the detailed sub-structure of the proton. In particular his work has led to a deeper understanding of the strong force and will have important applications to the LHC and future colliders. Full citation.

Paterson medal and prize 2009

Dr Rachel McKendry
University College London

For her internationally recognized contributions to the field of nanomechanics, particularly of complex biomolecular systems and the successful commercial development of label-free nanomechanical cantilever sensors for rapid disease diagnostics and antibiotic drug screening applications. Full citation.

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