Professor Ian Hamley awarded prestigious award for polymer science

Thursday, 22 December 2016

Professor Ian Hamley, Department of Chemistry, has been awarded the 2016 Macro Group UK Medal, the UK’s most prestigious award for polymer science.

The prestigious prize is awarded to UK-based scientists who have made significant contributions to the development of polymer science through scientific achievements and for their services to the UK polymer science community. 

With expertise spanning over 25 years Ian is an international leader in polymer science and materials chemistry. His major research achievements include a pioneering series of synchrotron X-ray studies which led to a new and detailed understanding of the self-assembly of block copolymers. 

He has also pioneered important experimental methods for probing the shear-alignment of block copolymers in the melt and in solution, and for correlating the structural characteristics of these materials with their mechanical properties. His current research focuses on the development of new biomaterials, which have potential applications in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and CJD. 

Recent awards for his research include the University of Sydney International Visiting Fellowship (2009), the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2011), and the RSC Peter Day Award for Materials Chemistry (2015). 

On winning the award, Ian said: “I was delighted to hear about this award and deeply honoured by this wonderful recognition of work in my group over more than twenty years.”

Macro Group UK represents the polymer science interests within both the Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Physics. Recipients of the medal will later deliver an award lecture at an appropriate Macro Group UK meeting.

More information on the medal and previous winners can be found at: https://macrogroup.org.uk/medals-and-awards/