Past Von Hippel Award Winners

2011
A. Paul Alivisatos
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California, Berkeley 

“For the development of the fundamental scientific basis for growing and utilizing defect-free colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles, providing the basis for biological imaging, solid state lighting, and the capture and conversion of solar energy to electricity.”

2010
L. Eric Cross
The Pennsylvania State University 

“For his imposing leadership in the science and applications of ferroelectric materials”

2009
Tobin J. Marks
Northwestern University 

“Consistently discovering and applying new scientific principles, Tobin Marks has advanced materials science across a spectrum from self-assembly to crystal growth, encompassing organic electronic, photonic and photovoltaic materials, and oxide dielectrics, conductors, and superconductors."

2008
Herbert Gleiter
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe  

“For his imaginative experiments on the role of defects that have  led to new insights into the importance of length-scale in materials and have resulted in many new applications.”

2007
William Nix
Stanford University  

“For his original contributions on the deformation and failure of materials, particularly in the areas of thin films, small volumes, and high-temperature alloys; for pioneering mechanical test methods; and for educating and mentoring future generations of materials scientists."

2006
Knut Wolf Urban
Forschungszentrum Juelich  

"For sustained contributions to the development and use of electron microscopy, and for major discoveries in the defect physics of quasicrystals and high-temperature superconductors."  

2005
Robert S. Langer
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology  

“For pioneering accomplishments in the science and application of biomaterials in drug delivery and tissue engineering, particularly in inventing the use of materials for protein and DNA delivery, and for his achievements in interdisciplinary research which have generated new medical products, created new fields of biomaterials science, and inspired research programs throughout the world."

“For his many contributions to research and development in the field of semiconductors, not least for the first development of semiconducting lasers in the useful visible portion of the optical spectrum.”

2003
Julia R. Weertman
Northwestern University  

“For her life-long exceptional contributions to understanding the basic deformation processes and failure mechanisms in a wide class of materials, from nanocrystalline metals to high-temperature structural alloys, and for her inspiring role as an educator in materials science.”  

"Through innovative use of a wide range of novel experimental tools, Howard K.Birnbaum has made seminal contributions to our understanding of intrinsic point defects, hydrogen in metals, and grain boundary segregation, especially as these effects relate to mechanical properties. He has also stimulated, directed, and influenced interdisciplinary research throughout the materials community."

"For consistently timely and essential contributions to identifying and understanding the atomic-level structure of almost every new type of material discovered in the last thirty years"

"For bringing fundamental concepts of organic chemistry and biology into materials science and engineering, through his pioneering research on surface modification, self-assembly, and soft lithography."

"In recognition of his seminal work in the development of rheo-optical techniques for polymer characterization and property assessment, his profound contributions leading to a fundamental understanding of how polymeric materials respond to deformation in the melt and solid states, and his pioneering role in the development of graduate education in polymer materials."

"For pioneering accomplishments in the field of glass and ceramics including the demonstration of the first bioactive glass called Bioglass® and subsequent expansion of the field, demonstration of the feasibility of encapsulating nuclear waste products in glass/ceramic matrices, and development of sol-gel processing to produce ultra-high-purity optical and dielectric materials with controlled microstructures."

"Has made extraordinary multidisciplinary contributions to the atomic-level understanding of materials surfaces and surface processes with technological importance in heterogeneous catalysis, corrosion, and tribology. Somorjai's ideas and his vision for the future as well as his promotion of the field and of his colleagues' work have had a major impact in stimulating support and raising the visibility of surface science when the field was young."

"Converted crystal dislocations from a handwaving hypothesis to a rigorous discipline, transformed the understanding of brittle fracture, made varied and crucial advances in the theory of radiation damage, and transformed the teaching of materials science throughout the academic world through his pioneering textbooks."

"Has made profound contributions to the understanding of grain boundary motion, morphological stability, the structure of surfaces and interfaces, and flow and diffusion as stochastic phenomena."

"Pioneered the development of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and its application to new devices based on quantum wells and artificially structured materials."

"Has played a seminal role in establishing the modern fields of solid-state physics and materials science through his many basic books and research papers, and for his leadership, as a teacher and administrator, in encouraging the growth of these disciplines."

"Has made seminal contributions to subjects as diverse as dispersion hardening, grain boundary sliding, creep, fracture, sintering, cellular materials, ice mechanics, and wear."

"Has made ingenious use of chemical principles to synthesize novel materials of technological importance, has executed careful experiments on a wide range of materials to illuminate fundamental materials properties and behavior, and has provided leadership in helping to formulate the modern concepts of interdisciplinarity as a scientist, teacher, and administrator."

"Whose seminal experimental and analytical contributions have clarified our fundamental understanding of the atomic mechanisms of sintering, Kirkendall phenomena, dislocation climb, solid-state diffusion, the production and recovery of radiation damage, grain boundary structure and energetics in metals and ceramics."

"Has made distinguished contributions to the field of solid state sciences, where his insights, ideas, knowledge, and research have consistently drawn together the basic concepts of physics and chemistry in the conquest of wide-range fundamental topics. Through the years, his work can be said to have built the principal conceptual foundations of the science and solid state chemistry."

"Has made pioneering contributions within the domain of condensed matter sciences which have profoundly influenced, theoretically and experimentally, advances ranging from the quantum theory of solids, materials science and metallurgy to chemistry. He is noted for major contributions to the understanding of dislocations and strength of materials, electron theory of metals, and the properties of alloys."

"Has had wide-ranging impact on modern materials science through seminal contributions in areas of inorganic crystals, metals, polymers, and liquid crystals. His outstanding research in crystallography, chemistry, physics, and materials science exemplifies the interdisciplinary approach."

"Has made major contributions to the understanding of semiconductors and other materials, particularly through his development and use of optical spectroscopic which led to an understanding of elementary excitations and band structures in these materials."

"Is today's foremost scientist in the thermodynamics of phase equilibrium. He has made major contributions in solidification, crystal growth, glass formation, and the thermodynamics of surfaces and interfaces."

"Pioneered studies on semiconductor surface states, semiconductor radiation detectors, and the application of particle/solid interactions to the study of materials."

"Is universally known for his research with the electron microscope into imperfection in the crystalline structure of materials and the relationship between structural defects and mechanical properties."

"Performed the definitive work on internal friction in solids. His influence is most visibly expressed in the line of research that resulted in the invention of the Zener diode and laid the foundation for the development of semiconductors."

"Carried out research on implantation that identified the damage and the epitaxial regrowth phenomena crucial to the semiconductor industry, and pioneered the use of ion beam techniques for materials analysis."

"Demonstrated that whiskers of high crystalline perfection would exhibit extraordinary mechanical properties. He is also held in esteem for his theoretical contributions to the understanding of surfaces and surface tension."

"Has distinguished himself in many areas of materials research, including especially kinetics to crystal nucleation and growth, diffusion in metals, and glass formation."

"Led research into solid state materials and macromolecules, dielectric, and dynamic mechanical properties of crystals and glasses, information processing technology, and plastics, fibers, and natural and synthetic rubbers. He nurtured and oversaw the development of one of the world's preeminent laboratories."

"In whose honor the premier award of the Materials Research Society is named, was a pioneer in the study of dielectrics, semiconductors, ferromagnetics, and ferroelectrics. He was an early advocate of the interdisciplinary approach to materials research, and his example substantially furthered the science of materials."