St Andrews Physicists Receive National Honours

Three faculty members of the University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, alongside two distinguished alumni, have been recognised with national honours in the Institute of Physics (IOP) 2025 Awards. 

Professor Ifor Samuel of the School of Physics and Astronomy received the Thomas Young Prize for his “internationally leading contributions to the field of scanning probe microscopy that have helped to elucidate the physical properties of nano-structures,” the IOP website states. 

Samuel’s pioneering research into organic light-emitting diodes, organic lasers, and their technological and medical applications “led to the breakthrough of light-emitting dendrimers with world-record efficiency for solution-processed OLEDs,” the IOP website stated. His team’s landmark achievement — demonstrating the world’s first electrically driven polymer laser, published in the journal Nature — resolved a decades-long challenge in the field which “researchers have been working to overcome [...] for 30 years,” a University press release read. 

Martin McLaren, CDQM Technical Manager for the School of Physics and Astronomy, was honoured with the IOP Technician Award “for spearheading the design and creation of multi-million-pound research infrastructure at the University of St Andrews, Scotland,” the IOP website read.

Speaking to The Saint, McLaren explained that the award “is intended to raise the visibility and professional status of technicians by recognising and rewarding our vital work in research and education.” 

He added, “Winning the award demonstrates that in the School of Physics and Astronomy, the work of technicians doesn't go unnoticed. It also shows that although technicians are typically seen as working behind the scenes, supporting or facilitating others to do research or teaching [...] can still be [...] very rewarding and impactful.”

Professor Peter Littlewood, a visiting professor at St Andrews and Chair of Physics at the University of Chicago, received the Richard Glazebrook Medal for his exceptional leadership in the field. The award recognises his direction of major international research institutions and his founding of the Faraday Institution, the UK’s national centre for battery science. 

Reflecting on the breadth of achievement, Professor Graham Turnbull, Deputy Head of School for Physics and Astronomy, highlighted that two St Andrews alumni were also recognised by the Institute: Professor Sir Michael Berry (PhD St Andrews 1965, HonDSc 1998) received the Isaac Newton prize — the premier award of the IOP — for his groundbreaking work in mathematical physics, including the discovery of the “Berry phase” in quantum systems, and Professor Mark Dennis (MSci St Andrews 1998) was awarded the Rayleigh medal and prize for his work on structured light and topological optics.

Turnbull remarked on the collective impact of these recognitions: “These three awards are a terrific recognition of the outstanding contributions that our staff make in internationally leading research and the development of world-class research facilities and institutions. These will raise the profile of physics in St Andrews both on a national and international stage, and help us to showcase some of the remarkable scientific advances and people in St Andrews.”

“We are particularly delighted that these awards recognise contributions across the School, including senior professors and technical research staff. Ifor, Peter, and Martin have each made remarkable contributions to physics and the facilities that allow our community to undertake excellent research. The delivery of world-leading research is a huge team effort, involving academic staff, early career researchers and PhD students, and professional service staff in the School,” said Turnbull. “While these awards recognise three truly outstanding individuals in our School, I am proud to be part of a large team of highly skilled and committed people working collegiately to advance research and innovation at the highest level.”

Image by Abbie Arkless