Thomas Smith, a research student from the University of Cambridge, has been named the L'Oréal-Royal Institution Science Graduate of the Year 2004. He has developed a cheap and efficient pump that could have countless industrial, agricultural and domestic applications from places as big as power stations down to the scale of microelectronic components.
On Thursday 10th June, Thomas beat five other finalists who all presented their findings to a panel of judges at the world famous Royal Institution in London. He will receive £6000 and life membership of the Royal Institution. The Award, established by L'Oréal and the Royal Institution, is in its fifth year and was set up to showcase first-class, innovative research across all scientific disciplines.
Judges for the Science Graduate of the Year 2004, included Baroness Greenfield, Director of the Royal Institution, Professor Richard Catlow, Director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory, Ed Feil, University of Bath, Tony Williams, University of Southampton and David Billington, Director at L'Oréal Research. Thomas was selected as overall winner as his research was deemed exceptional and his passion and commitment to this subject clearly shone through.
'I am delighted to win this award' said Thomas 'My single greatest motivation was the real impact that this machine can have on the lives of the world's poorest people'
'As a company founded on research and innovation, and committed to talent development, L'Oréal is keen to identify the rising stars in science. Thomas is an exceptionally talented scientist, and as such is a most worthy recipient of the L'Oréal-Royal Institution Science Graduate of the Year Award' said David Billington, Director at L'Oréal Research.
At a lecture on 6 October 2004, Thomas will present his findings to a public audience.
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For more information please contact:
Daniela Queen, The Royal Institution 020 7670 2903 dqueen@ri.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
Thomas will present his research in a lecture at the Royal Institution on 6 October 2004. The evening will be chaired by Baroness Greenfield, Director of the Royal Institution.
The L'Oréal-Royal Institution Science Graduate of the Year Award aims to showcase research students across all disciplines who are not only first-class, but also exceptionally innovative. Established in 2000, the award demonstrates L'Oréal's commitment to the development of the next generation of scientific talent.
L'Oréal is the world's number one cosmetics company, present in over 130 countries with 50,000 employees worldwide and a turnover of 14 billion euros in 2003.
L'Oréal's origins are deeply rooted in research. In 1907, Eugene Schueller, the founder of L'Oréal, prepared the first hair dye products in his laboratory. Since that time research has continued to play a vital role in the Group's strategy and has grown in line with the company's international development. Today the company employs 2,900 staff members in research and 3,000 new formulas are developed each year. 480 million euros, 3% of annual sales, was dedicated to cosmetic and dermatological research in 2003.
The Royal Institution has a reputation established over 200 years for its high calibre events that break down the barriers between science and society. It acts as a unique forum for informing people about how science affects their daily lives, and prides itself on its reputation of engaging the public in scientific debate. Please visit www.rigb.org for more information
In 2003, the award was won by Araxi Urrutia Odabachian, a Biology PhD research student from Bath University. Her ground-breaking work is profoundly changing the world view of the evolution of the genome organisation.