Michael Coey facts for kids

John Michael David Coey, known as Michael Coey, was born on February 24, 1945, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is a scientist who studies magnetism and spintronics. He is now a retired professor at Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

About Michael Coey

His Education Journey

Michael Coey studied Physics at Jesus College, Cambridge and earned his first degree in 1966. Later, he got his PhD from the University of Manitoba in 1971. His PhD work focused on how iron atoms behave in magnetic materials.

He joined the physics department at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 1978. He also earned another advanced degree, an ScD, in 1987.

His Amazing Career

Michael Coey became a Physics Professor at TCD in 1987. He held a special position called the Erasmus Smith's Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy from 2007 to 2012. This is a very old and important teaching role that started in 1724.

In 1994, Professor Coey started a company called Magnetic Solutions. He also helped create CRANN in 2002. CRANN is a big research center in Ireland that studies tiny materials called nanoscience. He also came up with the idea for Dublin's unique Science Gallery in 2006.

He has written over 700 scientific papers about magnetism. Many of his ideas have greatly helped the science world. His textbook, Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, is also very popular.

Professor Coey has worked with many other scientists and research centers around the world. He helped start a big project in Europe called the Concerted European Action on Magnets. This project brought together universities and companies to work on magnetism. He believes strongly in working together with others.

Awards and Special Honors

Michael Coey has received many awards and honors for his work. He became a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1987. In 2003, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He is also a member of the US National Academy of Sciences.

Some of his awards include:

• The Charles Chree Medal in 1997
• The Gold Medal of the Royal Irish Academy in 2005
• The RDS INTEL Prize Lecture on Nanoscience in 2012
• The Humboldt Prize in 2013
• The Gutenberg award in 2015
• The Max Born Medal and Prize in 2019

Books He Wrote

Michael Coey has written or edited several important books about magnetism:

• Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (2010)
• Permanent Magnetism (1999, with R. Skomski)
• Magnetic Glasses (1984, with K Moorjani)

His Family Life

Since 1973, Michael Coey has been married to the poet Wong May Coey. They have two sons.