Armourers and Brasiers' Company Prize facts for kids

The Royal Society Armourers and Brasiers' Company Prize is a special award given out every two years. It celebrates amazing work in materials science and technology. This means it honors people who discover new things about materials and how to use them. The prize is sponsored by two important groups: the Royal Society and the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. Winners also receive £2000. The first person to win this award was Michael F. Ashby in 1985. He was recognized for his great ideas about how materials behave.

What is Materials Science?

Materials science is a field where scientists and engineers study all kinds of materials. This includes metals, plastics, ceramics, and even new materials like those used in electronics or medicine. They learn how these materials are made, what they are made of, and how they can be used. For example, they might figure out how to make a stronger metal for airplanes or a new material for artificial body parts.

Who Gives the Award?

The prize is given by the Royal Society, which is a very old and respected group of scientists in the United Kingdom. They promote science and help new discoveries happen. The other sponsor is the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. This group has a long history, going back to medieval times when they made armor and worked with brass. Today, they support education and research, especially in materials science.

Past Winners of the Prize

Many brilliant scientists and engineers have won this award over the years. They have all made big contributions to understanding and creating new materials. Here are a few examples of people who have been honored:

• 1986: Michael F. Ashby - He was recognized for his important work on how materials deform and break. His ideas helped engineers understand how to make materials stronger.
• 1988: Kenneth H. Jack - He won for his excellent work on ceramics, especially a type called sialons, and how they could be used.
• 1991: William Bonfield - He was honored for his new ideas in biomaterials, which are materials used in the body, like for bone repair.
• 1997: Harry Bhadeshia - He received the award for his research into how steels change their structure, and for inventing a special type of steel that is very strong.
• 2010: Philip J. Withers - He was recognized for using special beams (neutrons and X-rays) to look inside industrial parts and find problems or stresses.
• 2012: Jenny Nelson - She won for her ideas about how to make better solar cells using organic materials.
• 2018: Steven Armes - He was honored for developing tiny particles called colloidal nanocomposites.
• 2022: Iain McCulloch - He was recognized for his work in applying chemistry to organic electronics, which has led to new technologies.
• 2024: Molly Stevens - She won for her pioneering work with tiny materials (nanomaterials) that help diagnose diseases very early and deliver medicines more effectively.