External advisory board

The Functional Materials theme is advised by a number of internationally renowned experts.

Professor Lindsay Greer (chair)

University of Cambridge

Lindsay Greer is Professor of Materials Science at the University of Cambridge.  His research interest is in how materials change their structures.  Understanding the mechanisms of these transformations is relevant not only for assessing the stability of materials, but also for developing new microstructures, properties and functionalities.

Professor Miles Padgett

University of Glasgow

Miles Padgett is Professor of Optics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. He heads a 15-person team covering a wide spectrum from blue-sky research to applied commercial development, funded by a combination of government charity and industry. Professor Padgett has international reputation for his contribution to the fundamental understanding of light's momentum,

Professor Markys Cain

National Physical Laboratory

Prof Markys Cain is Knowledge Leader for the Functional Materials Team and Principal Research Scientist for the Multifunctional Materials technical area at the National Physical Laboratory. His research activity includes the development of measurement methods to elucidate materials behaviour in ferroelectric and piezoelectric ceramics and thin film materials, and more recently in multiferroic materials and materials metrology for Spintronics and Energy Harvesting. He is the Piezo Institute director responsible for communication. Markys has also been made a visiting professor at Queen Mary, University of London.

Sir Robin Nicholson

University of Exeter Council

Sir Robin Nicholson was a university and then industrial metallurgist, who served as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Cabinet Office from 1983-85. He then joined the board of Rolls-Royce plc, where he served until 2005. He was also a non-executive Board Member of BP plc and Pilkington plc. Sir Robin was the first Chairman of the National Energy Foundation, from its inception in 1988 until replaced by Mary Archer in 1990; he remained on its Board of Trustees until 1996.  He is a Member of Council of Exeter University until 2011.