British scientist receives King Faisal International Prize for Science

Professor Sir Richard Friend was jointly awarded the King Faisal International Prize for Science this year. 

The subject for 2009 was Physics and Sir Richard was awarded for his pioneering work on semiconducting devices made from plastic materials. The Royal Society of Chemistry supported the case for Richard Friend's receipt of this prize. 

Richard Friend is Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge and is an Honorary Fellow of the RSC. He is also co-founder of two Cambridge spin-off companies, Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) and Plastic Logic. 

This prestigious prize is awarded by the King Faisal Foundation. The prize for science is one of five categories: Services to Islam; Islamic Studies; Arabic Language and Literature; Medicine; and Science.

The Science Prize is awarded to scientists whose research results in significant advances that benefit humanity. It is divided into four broad sub-categories, rotated annually: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics. 

Richard Friend shares this award with Rashid Sunyaev of Russia (for pioneering and fundamental contributions to astrophysics and cosmology).