Minister Sherlock Announces SFI Researcher of the Year

Professor Jonathan Coleman, a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)-funded researcher from Trinity College who has achieved international success in the area of nanostructures, has been announced as the ‘Science Foundation IrelandResearcher of the Year’ for 2011.

The announcement was made by Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock T.D., at the SFI Science Summit in Athlone, held in November and attended by 300 researchers. The theme of this year’s summit was ‘Shaping the Future Now: New Horizons for Science and Society’.

In presenting Professor Coleman with his award, Minister Sherlock said “It is an extraordinary feat to be responsible for the development of the toughest materials* known to man, but this is a feat that Jonathan has achieved. His work
has been published in prestigious international journals such as Science, Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, and Advanced Materials, as well as featuring in New Scientist, the New York Times and on CNN. Within the last year, Jonathan has been recognised as one of the top 100 material scientists of the last decade – the only Irish representative and one of the youngest on the list.”

Addressing the theme of the Science Summit, Minister Sherlock said: “I’m greatly encouraged that the theme for this year’s summit is ‘Shaping the Future now – New horizons for science and society’. Very often, when debate in politics
and among the general public centre around the economy - especially in timessuch as now - society can sometimes find itself consigned to the margins. We hear of Ireland Inc…but what of Ireland Soc?” He added that research with
consequences is what is required that will impact and support Ireland’s economic, social and reputational recovery, “as well as reaffirming our position as an emergent force in science on the global stage.”

Minister Sherlock highlighted the Government’s commitment to scientific R&D as featured in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Capital Expenditure framework for 2012-1216. He said the SFI 2012 capital allocation
of €156 million would ensure continued support for its current cohort of 3,000 researchers and 28 large research groups. “I think everyone can be reassured by the Framework’s very clear statement that: “Developing a modern knowledge-led economy requires that creativity and innovation are centre-stage. Measures to support, apply and leverage potential in this regard are indispensible in ensuring our future prosperity,” the Minister concluded.