Ed Boyes Hon FRMS
Professor Boyes is the 2021 recipient of the RMS Honorary Fellowship.
During a career spanning more than 50 years, Ed’s work in materials research has focused on detailed microstructural analysis to generate fundamental understanding of materials’ behaviour at the nanoscale.
From his PhD research using field-ion microscopy of non-refractory metals including aluminium and thin films at Cambridge and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Through his impressive career at the University of Oxford and DuPont Research Laboratory in the US, Ed worked with Dame Pratibha Gai Hon FRMS to pioneer the development of the atomic resolution environmental TEM/STEM for in situ materials research, as well as the first low voltage SEM with chemical analysis.
In 2007, Ed co-founded the York JEOL Nanocentre alongside Dame Pratibha Gai Hon FRMS, where they jointly continue to expand ETEM in situ research activities in nanoparticles, fuel cells and catalysis research, and develop the aberration-corrected ESTEM.
Ed has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers and numerous conference papers dealing with in situ TEM studies, particularly for catalysis and nanoparticle behaviour. He has presented many invited keynote scientific conference presentations in 20 countries and taken on the role of organiser and chair of nearly two dozen international electron microscopy symposia.
Ed served as UK representative on the European Union committee on future microscopies from 1987-9. Later, he was appointed to Technical Advisory Group for the US President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) policy and performance review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), as one of three mainstream US industry representatives (2003) and reappointed to nTAG (2007) for ongoing oversight advice and periodic program review. He has served both on the RMS Council and as Chair of the Materials Committee (now known as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Committee).
RMS President Professor Grace Burke said: “Throughout his career, Ed has made substantial, sustained and world-leading contributions in our field, and continues to push boundaries with his materials research activities at the University of York. In addition to his work as a scientist, Ed has made outstanding and exemplary service contributions as an educator, scientific advisor and communicator on the international stage. It is my very great pleasure to welcome him as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society.”