IRL scientists scoop PM’s Science Prize
Two of New Zealand’s preeminent scientists, Drs Bob Buckley and Jeff Tallon, were today jointly awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Science Prize.
The award recognises the pair’s achievements in high temperature superconductivity (HTS). Dr Buckley, who manages the development of the technology for commercial use at Industrial Research Ltd. (IRL), was delighted with the news.
“Winning this award shows that science is now being recognised for the contribution it makes to New Zealand’s future economic well-being. While we are proud of the scientific achievements we have made, the real payoff for New Zealand will be witnessed in the next decade as HTS technology starts to make an impact in the global marketplace,” he says.
Dr Jeff Tallon, who is responsible for leading fundamental research into HTS, says, “It is wonderful to be recognised through this new award which I feel acknowledges the world-leading efforts of the entire team. Bob and I have had wonderful support over the years in assisting us in our research.”
Superconducting materials were discovered almost 100 years ago. The first low temperature superconductors required liquid helium to cool them to minus 269 Celsius, which made industrial applications prohibitive. In the 1980s Drs Buckley and Tallon discovered a new ceramic high temperature superconductor that conducted at minus 163 Celsius and could be cooled by liquid nitrogen.
The discovery was published in the journal Nature and after patenting their discovery, the pair spent the next 20 years refining their techniques and applying the technology for industrial use.
IRL Chief Executive Shaun Coffey congratulated both Dr Tallon and Dr Buckley for their dedication to the advancement of a field of science that “they can legitimately claim to be world leaders in”.
“It is wonderful that this recognition has come in the form of this new and prestigious award—an award that will, I am sure, elevate the importance of science in the eyes of the public. New Zealand’s current prosperity is based firmly on a foundation of world-class science and over the coming decades research in fields like HTS will continue to underpin our economic growth.”
The award has prize money of $500,000, of which $400,000 will go to IRL for the continued development of HTS technology.