Professor David Knowles CBE FREng CEng FIMMM, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, has been awarded the prestigious Platinum Medal by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) recognising his outstanding contribution to materials science and engineering.
The IOM3 Platinum Medal is one of the Institute’s highest honours. It is awarded to individuals at an advanced stage of their career who have made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the fields of materials science, minerals or mining.
David has spent four decades at the forefront of materials science combining internationally recognised technical expertise and research with strategic leadership that has helped shape the UK’s materials research and innovation landscape.
While CEO of the Henry Royce Institute he has led the development of the UK’s first National Materials Innovation Strategy, bringing together more than 2,000 stakeholders from across academia, industry and government. This strategy has helped position advanced materials as a frontier industry within the UK’s Industrial Strategy and supported major new investment in materials innovation. More recently he has been helping to shape the strategy’s delivery, while also focusing on accelerating the translation of materials technologies through increased private investment.
Alongside his national leadership David is recognised globally for his expertise in materials engineering and structural integrity, with significant contributions to the nuclear, offshore renewables, aerospace and wider energy sectors. He has authored a diverse range of scientific papers, led major research and innovation programmes and mentored generations of materials scientists and engineers throughout his career.
Commenting on the Award Professor Knowles said:
It’s an absolute honour to be acknowledged by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining alongside so many outstanding individuals across the materials community. These awards serve to highlight the innovation and impact taking place across our sector, and I’m very proud to be part of such a forward-looking and collaborative profession.
“This recognition also reflects the incredible colleagues and collaborators I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career. The progress we’ve made in advancing materials science has always been built on partnership and I’ve never been more excited about the opportunities ahead as materials innovation becomes more widely recognised and continues to play an increasingly important role in helping to tackle some of biggest economic and societal challenges.”
