Winner 2021

Oxford Instruments is delighted to announce Dr Atsushi Togo, Group Leader, Computational Materials Science Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) as the winner of the 2021 Sir Martin Wood Prize. Dr Togo was awarded the prize for Development of Open-Source Software for Phonon Properties in Materials Science.

Dr Togo was awarded with the medal, certificate and a cash prize of ¥500,000 at the British Embassy in Tokyo by Ms Julia Longbottom the British Ambassador on Friday 12th November 2021 and gave a lecture on his work at the event organised by Oxford Instruments and chaired by Professor Maki Kawai from The Institute for Molecular Science.

Professor Hidetoshi Fukuyama, Chair of the Sir Martin Wood Prize Selection Committee introduced the significance and impact of Dr Togo’s original and high-quality research.

"It truly is an honour to be the recipient of this prestigious prize and I am grateful to Oxford Instruments and the Sir Martin Wood Prize Committee for recognising my work", commented the winner.

The Millennium Science Forum was established in 1998 to promote scientific exchange between Britain and Japan and award the Sir Martin Wood Prize to a young researcher from a Japanese University or research institute who has performed outstanding research in the area of condensed matter science. The prize is named after Sir Martin Wood, Founder and Honorary President of Oxford Instruments plc.

The Sir Martin Wood Prize selection committee consists of 11 senior professors from Japanese Universities and is chaired by Professor Hidetoshi Fukuyama from Tokyo University of Science.

The ‘Sir Martin Wood Prize’ winner receives ¥500,000 in cash and the opportunity to give a series of lectures in British and EU Universities, including Oxford University.

Further details of the Sir Martin Wood Prize and nomination procedures can be obtained from the Secretariat at www.msforum.jp or email to msf@oxinst.com 

Oxford Instruments is aware that there is a critical and often difficult stage for many between completing their Ph.D and gaining a permanent research position. The company therefore helps individuals who are producing innovative work, by offering assistance both financially and promoting their research work through a series of sponsorship programs. More information on all the Science Prizes, sponsored by Oxford Instruments can be found at: www.oxford-instruments.com/scienceprize

Previous winners of the Sir Martin Wood Prize for Japan include –

• Dr Takeshi Kondo, Institute of Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo (2020) 
• Dr Keiichi Inoue, Institute of Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo (2019)
• Dr. Yoshihiko Okamoto, Department of Applied Physics. Nagoya University (2018)
• Dr Michihisa Yamamoto Quantum-Phase Electronics Center, The University of Tokyo (2017)
• Dr Akihito Ishizaki, Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki  (2016)
• Dr Takuya Satoh, Kyushu University (2015)
• Dr Masamitsu Hayashi, NIMS (2014)
• Dr Naoya Shibata, University of Tokyo (2013)
• Dr Daichi Chiba, Kyoto University (2012)
• Dr Yukio Kawano, Tokyo Institute of Technology (2011)
• Dr Shuichi Murakami, Tokyo Institute of Technology (2010)
• Dr Yousoo Kim, RIKEN (2009)
• Dr Teruo Ono, Kyoto University (2008)
• Dr Eiji Saito, Keio University (2008)
• Dr Akira Ohtomo, Tohoku University (2007)
• Dr Kazutomo Suenaga, AIST (2006)
• Dr Tsuyoshi Kimura, Osaka University (2005)
• Dr Yuzo Ohno, Tohoku University (2004)
• Dr Toshimasa Fujisawa, NTT basic research laboratories (2003)
• Dr Ichiro Terasaki, Waseda University (2002)
• Dr Keiya Shirahama, Keio University (2001)
• Dr Katsuya Shimizu, Osaka University and Dr Tokushi Kizuka, Nagoya University (2000)
• Dr Yasunobu Nakamura of NEC Corporation (1999)