/ Medals and awards

Royal Society Mullard Award

This award is made to individuals whose work has the potential to make a contribution to national prosperity.

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  • Winners announcement

The award

The Royal Society Mullard Award was provided by a gift to the Society by the Board of Directors of Mullard Ltd. The Mullard Award is awarded to those who have an outstanding academic record in any area of natural science, engineering or technology and to individuals or teams whose work has the potential to make a contribution to national prosperity. The medal is of silver gilt medal, is awarded on the occasion of a suitable candidate being identified by the award's selection committee, and is accompanied by a travel grant of £1,500 and a gift of £2,000.

Eligibility

The Royal Society Mullard Award is open to UK/Commonwealth/Republic of Ireland citizens or those who have been residents for three or more years. There are no restrictions on career stage and nominations will remain valid and shall be considered by the award selection committee throughout three nomination cycles. Teams or groups may now be nominated for this award.

Nominations are open

Nominations are now open and will close on 20 February 2026.

Spotlight on 2025 winner

Professor Jason Hallett was awarded the Royal Society Mullard Award in 2025. He is Professor of Sustainable Chemical Technology and holds a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies within the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London.

Professor Hallett’s research interests centre on the development of novel solvent-based chemical processes that are economically competitive and environmentally responsible. The focus is on sustainable biorefining and energy applications.

He has pioneered the development of low-cost green solvents for several commercial applications. This includes the production of biobased materials from waste wood and the recycling of post-consumer textile waste by removing dyes.

Speaking about his field of science, Professor Hallett said:

“It’s an exciting time for biorefining and recycling because of how well these areas match up with other advances currently happening in industry: renewable energy, low-carbon electricity, biotechnology and hydrogen. These aspects make biomass and waste more attractive feedstocks than ever and they should play a central role in displacing fossil carbon feedstocks.”

Professor Hallett’s academic career has been dedicated to the development of emerging sustainable technologies and the translation of those into commercial practice. When asked how the award could help further his work, Professor Hallett said:

“I think the exciting part is going to be the attention this can bring to academic translation activity, recycling and biomass-based technologies. The recognition of how our manufacturing industries and materials are changing and the drive for more sustainable products will be even more in the spotlight because of this award.”

Responding to winning the award, Professor Hallett said:

“I could not be more thrilled to be awarded the Mullard Award. I am humbled to be recognised with this award.”

2025 winner

  • Professor Jason Hallett

    Professor Jason Hallett

    The Mullard Award 2025 is awarded to Professor Jason Hallett for pioneering work on the development of ionic liquids as commercially relevant solvents in biorefining and the circular economy.

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Past winners

  • Graeme Milligan (Professor)
    Awarded in 2022

    Professor Graeme Milligan

    For his global leadership in pharmacological and translational studies, his successful "spinning-out" of academic research and his longstanding underpinning support for the bio-pharmaceutical industry.
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    Awarded in 2021

    Professor Stephen Davies

    For his long and successful record in converting brilliant academic ideas to commercial successes with world impact in the biotech sector.
  • Stephen Jackson
    Awarded in 2020

    Professor Stephen Jackson FMedSci FRS

    For pioneering research on DNA repair mechanisms and synthetic lethality that led to the discovery of olaparib, which has reached blockbuster status for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers.
  • Hagan Bayley
    Awarded in 2019

    Professor Hagan Bayley FRS

    For the invention of stochastic nanosensing, a generalised sequencing method for biopolymers which has delivered ultrarapid, distributable, wide-scale, 'long-read' genome sequencing.
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    Awarded in 2018

    Professor Florin Udrea FREng and Professor Julian Gardner FREng FRS

    for their work as renowned academics and serial entrepreneurs who together founded and led the most successful Cambridge University spin-off in the physical sciences, active in environmental and air quality sensors.
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    Awarded in 2016

    Professor Stephen Furber CBE FREng FRS and Dr Sophie Wilson CBE FREng FRS

    For their distinguished contributions to the design and analysis of the Acorn RISC Machine (ARM), the most successful embedded processor architecture in the world.
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    Awarded in 2014

    Sir Demis Hassabis CBE FREng FRS

    For his pioneering use of machine learning and systems neuroscience to build powerful general-purpose learning algorithms, delivering a significant contribution to national prosperity.
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    Awarded in 2009

    Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FMedSci FRS

    For his inventive new approach to DNA sequencing.
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    Awarded in 2007

    Professor Christopher Freeman

    For his research into the 'enzymic latch' mechanism, a potential carbon sequestration technique.
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    Awarded in 2005

    Professor Benjamin Davis FMedSci FRS

    For his pioneering research into the structure of carbohydrates.
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    Awarded in 2004

    Professor Jeremy Baumberg FRS

    For his work on the properties of meso- and nano-scale physics and technology and his contributions to the national prosperity of the UK through the spin out company Mesophotonics Ltd.
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    Awarded in 2003

    Professor Henning Sirringhaus FRS

    For his work on plastic semi-conductors and his contributions to the national prosperity of the UK through the spin out company Plastic Logic Ltd.