St Andrews physicist awarded Mott Medal

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Mott Medal

Professor Andrew Mackenzie of the University of St Andrews has been awarded the Mott Medal and Prize for distinguished research in condensed matter or material physics.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) made the award in recognition of his major and original contributions to the physics of strongly correlated electrons in oxides, in particular their superconductivity and quantum criticality.

Professor Andrew Mackenzie

Professor Mackenzie is Director of Research in the School of Physics and Astronomy and specialises in the physics of correlated electrons, magnetism and superconductivity .

Professor Mackenzie said:

“Although awards like this mostly go to individuals they actually result from team efforts.   I have been here in St Andrews for the past ten years, so I view this primarily as recognition of the work of the department as a whole.   It is a particular thrill to receive it because, while in Cambridge, I had the privilege of knowing Sir Nevill.  He continued producing original work even in his nineties and was an absolute role model for my generation of British physicists.”

The Institute of Physics citation comments “Mackenzie’s work is marked by a powerful combination of scientific insight and experimental virtuosity which places him at the very forefront of one of the most important, competitive and exciting areas of condensed matter physics today”.

The Mott Medal and Prize was instituted by the Council of the Institute of Physics in 1997 to commemorate Sir Nevill Mott FRS, President of The Physical Society from 1956 to 1958 and Nobel Laureate in physics in 1977 who died in 1996.

The award consists of a silver medal and certificate and is accompanied by a prize of £1,000.


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