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Dr James Best awarded with Georg Sachs Prize 2023
The German Society for Materials Science has honoured Dr Bests ’ contributions to enhancing structural and functional materials
By Yasmin Ahmed Salem , MPIE
The German Society for Materials Science ( DGM ) has awarded the Georg Sachs Prize 2023 to Dr James P . Best , head of the Mechanics at Chemical Interfaces group at the Max-Planck- Institut für Eisenforschung ( MPIE ) in Germany . The prestigious award acknowledges his contributions to enhancing structural and functional materials by understanding how the local chemical composition of alloys influences their microstructure and mechanical behaviour . “ It ’ s an honour to receive this recognition from the DGM , and I ’ m grateful to the community for acknowledging my work , realised invaluable partnership with my students and collaborators ”, says Best . With a keen focus on microand nanometre scale materials testing , he utilises state-of-the-art electron microscopes to observe material behaviour during deformation .
Focus on metallic glasses Best ’ s recent work has concentrated on zirconium-based metallic glasses fabricated through additive manufacturing . These glasses exhibit remarkable properties like high strength , elasticity , and corrosion resistance , making them ideal for structural materials applications like medical implants , gears and electric motor parts . His current work focuses on interrelations between chemical composition at grain boundaries and mechanical response , for functional metals such as copper and tungsten containing impurity elements . “ We are delighted to have James on board as the recipient of the esteemed Georg Sachs Prize . His exceptional skills in utilising high-energy X-ray diffraction , electron microscopy , and miniaturised mechanics allow him to unravel the intricate connections between material structure , chemistry , and mechanics , paving the way for practical applications . Beyond his scientific expertise , James possesses an admirable personality , staying calm during intense situations and fostering a collaborative team spirit ”, highlights Prof . Gerhard Dehm , director of the department “ Structure and Nano- / Micromechanics of Materials ” at MPIE . Best obtained his doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Melbourne ( Australia ), followed by
Dr James P Best is head of the Mechanics at Chemical Interfaces group at the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung . Copyright : Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH
postdoctoral positions at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research ( EMPA ) in Thun , and the University of New South Wales ( Australia ), where he initiated his research on additively manufactured metallic glasses .
About the Prize
The Georg Sachs Prize , jointly offered by “ Stifterverband Metalle e . V .” and “ Fachverband der Nichteisen-Metallindustrie of Austria ,” has been recognising outstanding scientists since 1967 . It honours young scientists who achieve groundbreaking results in materials science and engineering and is awarded once a year if a suitable scientist is found .