Internationally recognised chemist Professor Andrew Holmes has been awarded the prestigious Royal Medal from the Royal Society London, the only Australian in 10 years to receive the accolade.

 

Professor Holmes received the medal for his work in applied organic electronic materials. His work in the field culminated with his contribution to the discovery of light emitting polymers, which have uses in solid state lighting (LED), flat panel displays, transistors and solar cells. He has led the Chemistry team in the ongoing collaboration between the CSIRO and the University of Cambridge.

 

Professor Holmes is a CSIRO Fellow, University of Melbourne Laureate Professor of Chemistry at the Bio21 Institute and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Imperial College London.

 

In Australia Professor Holmes leads the Victorian Organic Solar Cells Consortium involving the University of Melbourne, CSIRO, Monash University and industry partners. The Consortium aims to deliver efficient flexible printed solar cells for low cost applications in electricity generation and benefits from a strong collaboration with the Imperial College Doctoral Training Centre in Plastic Electronics.

 

Professor Holmes is one of three Royal Medals that are awarded annually for the most important contributions in the physical, biological and applied or interdisciplinary sciences.

 

The Royal Medals were founded by His Majesty King George IV in 1825 and are awarded annually by Her Majesty The Queen on the recommendation of the Council of the Royal Society. Professor Holmes will be presented with the Medal at the Royal Society’s Anniversary Day meeting in November 2012.