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The Rank Prize Funds: Nurturing Advancement in Optoelectronics

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The Rank Prize Funds: Nurturing Advancement in Optoelectronics INTERFACES Beyond the Lab: The people and profession of materials. The Rank Prize Funds: Nurturing Advancement in Optoelectronics Carol Trager-Cowan The classic British films of Brief working at the cutting edge of Encounter (1945), Great Expec ta - optoelectronics research. By the tions (1946), The Red Shoes (1948), award of annual prizes, the and The Thirty-Nine Steps (1959), trustees of The Funds “seek to produced by The Rank Organi - identify those individuals who sation, may be well known but have made a significant contribu- few viewers may be aware of the tion …, where an initial idea has role that The Rank Prize Funds been carried through to practical play in recognizing excellence and applications that have, or will, nurturing progress in the field of demonstrably benefit mankind” optoelectronics. (www.rankprize.org). For exam- The Rank Organisation and ple, in 2008, Professor P.B. Denyer The Rank Prize Funds both owe and colleagues Dr. D. Renshaw, their existence to J. Arthur Rank, Dr. M. Lu, and Professor G. Wang later to become Lord Rank from the University of Edinburgh (1957). He was born in 1888 into were awarded prizes “for their a wealthy flour-milling family work on the first CMOS [comple- and at the age of 17 he joined the mentary metal oxide semiconduc- family business. tor] image sensors for digital cam- Lord Rank was a devout eras.” Professor M.V. Srinivasan of Christian and taught at the Sun - The Australian National Uni - Delegates from the “Physics and Applications of InN and day School of his local church. InGaN Semiconductor Materials” mini-symposium relaxing at ver sity was awarded a prize “for He liked to show the children the top of a hill in the Lake District, England, UK. his work on insect vision and its religious films, but was unhappy application to robotics.” The 1998 with the quality of what was prize “for contributions to the available and so decided to pro- invention of nitride-based blue duce his own. From 1934, filmmaking by Lord Rank on the 16th February 1972, and green semiconductor diode lasers” and later film distribution and exhibiting shortly before his death in March of that spanned two continents being awarded to were to become a major part of his life. year. There are two Funds, the Nutrition Professor S. Nakamura of the University of He created the Rank Organisation in 1937 Fund and the Optoelectronics Fund, California, Santa Barbara, Professor which was to own Pinewood Film encompassing the two sciences that reflect I. Akasaki of Meijo and Nagoya Uni ver - Studios, Denham Film Studios, Ealing the business interests of the late Lord sities, Professor H. Amano of Meijo Studios, Lime Grove Studios, and Rank through his connection with the University, and Professor J.I. Pankove of Islington Studios as well as the Odeon flour-milling and cinema and electronics Astralux, Inc., Boulder, Colorado. Cinema chain. By 1941 he dominated the industries.” These areas were also of inter- The Advisory Committee also organize British cinema industry. est to Lord Rank because he believed they regular meetings (typically four a year) Lord Rank and his wife Lady Rank would be of special benefit to humanity. which they term “mini-symposia.” A were great philanthropists who undertook The funds are ably administered by the mini-symposium brings together about a wide range of charitable work; in 1953 Trustees and an Advisory Committee for 10 leading scientists and 20 younger re - they set up the J. Arthur Rank Group “Human and animal nutrition and crop searchers, who over two and a half days, Charity (now The Rank Foundation). husbandry” and an Advisory Committee give and listen to short presentations and Today, The Rank Foundation supports for “Optoelectronics.” The two Advisory take part in animated discussions in com- activities which encourage and develop Committees comprise distinguished scien- fortable and informal surroundings. “It is leadership among young people, activities tists who give their time freely to the work hoped that by creating such a forum the which support disadvantaged young peo- of The Rank Prize Funds (www.rankprize. younger scientists will be encouraged to ple and those frail or lonely through old org/Committees.htm). explore and develop their skills and age or disability and activities which pro- The Rank Prize Funds recognize and make contacts that will help them push mote Christian principles through film foster excellence in the optoelectronics area forward the frontiers of their science” and other media. For example, the Rank through a wide range of innovative activi- (www.rankprize.org/Symposia.htm). Foundation has provided funding toward ties. For example, they provide stu- Some recent mini-symposia included a drop-in center for the homeless; pro - dentships to enable undergraduates to Optoelectronics for Use in the Diagnosis vides funding to support young people as undertake research during the summer of Cancer (2005); Metamaterials in volunteers and leaders in the community; vacation, they have developed electronics Nature and Technology (2006); Still and supports an educational facility for fami- kits for schools, and are presently creating Moving Images: From Signals to Seman - lies, schools, respite centers, play schemes, an Optoelectronics College to support and tics (2007); and in 2008 (which the author and clubs, all of whom care for children equip teachers to enthuse 13–14-year-old was privileged to attend), Physics and with disabilities or specific needs (www. students with curriculum-relevant opto- Appli cations of InN and InGaN Semi - rankfoundation.com). electronic resources. Activities will explore conductor Materials. Donations were made from The Rank how objects such as liquid-crystal displays, The mini-symposia are meetings with Foundation to endow The Rank Prize light-emitting diodes, and solar cells work. a difference—most are held in the beauti- Funds. The Rank Prize Funds, as noted in The Rank Prize Funds also supports, ful surroundings of the English Lake the mission statement, “were established encourages, and rewards researchers District—emphasis is placed on MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 33 • NOVEMBER 2008 • www.mrs.org/bulletin 999 INTERFACES discussion and the imparting of knowl- the younger scientists to see where their rewarded by a glass of orange juice and edge to the younger scientists. Discussion research fit into our understanding and champagne. The hardest thing about The is encouraged by timetabling discussion exploitation of these materials. Rank Prize mini-symposia is telling stu- sessions into the program. Excellent food dents that the beautiful accommodation, and the free bar to midnight all encourage the “haute cuisine,” the free bar, the discourse, and impromptu tutorials run The Rank Prize Funds champagne, and the focus on students long into the night. There is a strong inter- recognize and foster excellence and on discussion are quite unique. national element to the mini-symposia. At Lord Rank has left an amazing legacy to the Physics and Applications of InN and in the optoelectronics area science and to the human race. The many InGaN Semiconductor Materials Mini- through a wide range of diverse activities run by The Rank Prize Symposium we had both leading scien- Funds, from the resources to schools, to the tists and younger scientists from innovative activities. inspirational activities run to support and Germany, Spain, and the United States as encourage young scientists, to the prizes well as from the United Kingdom, so there Another unique element of The Rank for cutting-edge research, provide motiva- was a cultural exchange in addition to the Prize mini-symposia is the traditional tion and inspiration to this and the next scientific exchange between the partici- hike up one of the nearby hills. Before the generation of scientists whose science is of pants. In the course of the symposium we evening meal on the first day of the sym- benefit to humanity. were treated to a thorough overview of posium, delegates don their walking Carol Trager-Cowan has been a senior the current state-of-the-art growth, charac- shoes and go out into the fresh air to lecturer in the Physics Department at terization, and theoretical modeling of enjoy beautiful views over the Lake the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow InN and InGaN semiconductors, allowing District. Reaching the top of the hill is since 1998. spring meeting For the most up-to-date information visit SanS Francisco, CCA t April 13-17 www.mrs.org/spring2009 1000 MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 33 • NOVEMBER 2008 • www.mrs.org/bulletin.
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