[an error occurred while processing this directive]
site search
home
email alert
members only
membership
meetings

Von Hippel Award
Purpose | Award Package | Recipients | Nomination Information
Endowment Fund | Download the Nomination Summary Form (MS Word Format)

View the complete list of MRS Awards



About the Award
The Von Hippel Award, the Materials Research Society's highest honor, recognizes those qualities most prized by materials scientists and engineers — brilliance and originality of intellect, combined with vision that transcends the boundaries of conventional scientific disciplines.

Arthur Robert von Hippel (1898-2003)
We invite you to view a new Web site from MRS, dedicated to the life and times of Arthur Robert von Hippel

 
Award Package
The Von Hippel Award includes a $10,000 cash prize, honorary membership in MRS, and a unique trophy — a mounted ruby laser crystal symbolizing the many-faceted nature of materials research. The award is presented annually at the MRS Fall Meeting where the recipient is invited to speak at the Awards Ceremony. The recipient will have registration fees and reasonable travel expenses paid in order to attend the meeting.
Von Hippel Recipients
2004
Nick Holonyak, Jr.
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign

“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.” 
2002
Howard K. Birnbaum
University of Illinois
"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."
2001
Simon C. Moss
University of Houston
"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"
2000
George M. Whitesides
Harvard University
"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."
1999
Richard S. Stein
University of
Massachusetts-Amherst
"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."
1998
Larry L. Hench
Imperial College of
Science, Technology
and Medicine
"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."
1997
Gabor A. Somorjai
University of California-Berkeley
"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."
1996
Sir Alan H. Cottrell
University of Cambridge
"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."
1995
William W. Mullins
Carnegie Mellon University
"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."
1994
Alfred Y. Cho
AT&T Bell Laboratories
"Pioneered the development of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and its application to new devices based on quantum wells and artificially structured materials."
1993
Frederick Seitz
The Rockefeller University
"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."
1992
Michael F. Ashby
University of Cambridge
"Has made seminal contributions to subjects as diverse as dispersion hardening, grain boundary sliding, creep, fracture, sintering, cellular materials, ice mechanics, and wear."
1991
Theodore H. Geballe
Stanford University
"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."
1990
Robert W. Balluffi
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"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."
1989
John B. Goodenough
The University of
Texas at Austin
"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."
1988
Jacques Friedel
Université de Paris-Sud
"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."
1987
Sir Charles Frank
University of Bristol
"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."
1986
Minko Balkanski
Université Pierre et Marie Curie

"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."
1985
John W. Cahn
National Bureau of Standards

"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."
1984
Walter L. Brown
AT&T Bell Laboratories
"Pioneered studies on semiconductor surface states, semiconductor radiation detectors, and the application of particle/solid interactions to the study of materials."
1983
Sir Peter B. Hirsch
University of Oxford
"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."
1982
Clarence M. Zener
Carnegie Mellon
University
"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."
1981
James W. Mayer
Cornell University
"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."
1980
W. Conyers Herring
Stanford University
"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."
1979
David Turnbull
Harvard University
"Has distinguished himself in many areas of materials research, including especially kinetics to crystal nucleation and growth, diffusion in metals, and glass formation."
1978
William O. Baker
Bell Laboratories
"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."
1976
Arthur von Hippel
Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
"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."


Nomination Information
Administration |Rules and Eligibility | Nomination Package Requirements
Procedure for Submission

Administration
The Von Hippel Award is managed by the Von Hippel Subcommittee of the MRS Awards Committee. This subcommittee is responsible for soliciting and evaluating nominations annually and for recommending a nominee to MRS Board for final approval or recommending that no award be made.

Rules and Eligibility
Nominees for the Von Hippel Award must have outstanding credentials, their scientific work must have had a significant impact on materials research, and it must have exemplified an interdisciplinary approach. The scientific discipline of the nominee is of no concern except that the work must have been in areas commonly associated with materials research. The nominee does not need to be a member of the Materials Research Society and nominees of any nationality are eligible. It is not necessary for the nominee to have previously won other major awards.

The Von Hippel is presented at the MRS Fall Meeting. The Award will not be bestowed in absentia except in extraordinary circumstances. Current members of the Von Hippel Subcommittee, MRS Board members, and former recipients of the Von Hippel Award are not eligible.

Nomination Package Requirements
The following is required for nomination for the Von Hippel Award:
  1. Completed Nomination Summary Form
    PDF Format | MS Word Format
  2. A statement by the nominator supporting the candidate's suitability for the award with respect to:
    • interdisciplinary character of the candidate's work,
    • manner in which the candidate's work spans basic and applied science, and
    • impact of the candidate's work within and outside his/her immediate professional field.

    Wherever possible, this statement should cite evidence rather than opinion or intuition. Further pertinent information may be added.

  3. Supporting information and documents, e.g., lists of the candidate's professional appointments held, honors, awards, patents and publications; the nominator must also provide a separate list of the most important papers and books published by the nominee.
  4. Names of three distinguished scientists who have agreed to send letters supporting the nomination with explicit reference to the three criteria of item 2 above. Their letters should be sent with all other nominating materials to the address below.
  5. A list of supporting documents submitted.
  6. Materials provided in paper form (if mailed) should be single-sided.

In preparing nominations, the nominator should bear in mind that the nominees for this award should have made outstanding contributions to our profession. Further, since a poorly prepared nomination for an outstanding individual would constitute a disservice to that person, it is important that the nomination package truly reflect the accomplishments and stature of the nominee.

Deadlome amd Procedure for Submission of Nominations

All materials comprising a nomination package, with the exception of support letters, which may be sent separately, should be sent COLLECTIVELY in a single packet by the nominator. Nominators should be careful to ensure legibility of documents. Nomination packages, updates and support letters for the Von Hippel Award must arrive by midnight Eastern time on June 1, by mail or fax. Incomplete nominations will not be eligible. Nomination forms/materials received by email should be replications (PDFs). Letters of support must also be in pdf format on letterhead showing signature of supporter.

Mail to:

John B. Ballance, Executive Director
Materials Research Society
506 Keystone Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086 U.S.A.

OR email to: awardsprogram@mrs.org

Fax: 724-779-8313

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 


 
Home •  News • Society Information •  Site Map • Comments • Search  • Contacts
Meetings • Membership • Publications • Marketing Opportunities • Materials Connections

Search the Site

©1995-2005
Materials Research Society
506 Keystone Drive
Warrendale PA 15086-7573 USA
Phone: 724.779.3003, Fax: 724.779.8313
General Information:
Web site comments/questions: