Castner Medal and Lecture

Established 1946

Hamilton Castner is best known as a pioneer in the field of industrial electro-chemistry. He found a better process for caustic soda manufacture, resulting in the now world-famous mercury cell for the electrolysis of brine. His process was patented in 1892 and was soon established in many parts of the world, making full use of SCI connections.

Nominations are submitted by members of either the Electrochemical Technology or Separation Science and Technology Groups.

Award Information

Medal History

The Castner Medal and Lecture on Industrial Electrochemistry is a biennial award given by SCI's Electrochemical Technology Group. The award is named in honour of Hamilton Young Castner (1858-1899), a scientist, engineer and industrialist who changed the world in several respects. He is best known as a pioneer in the field of industrial electrochemistry, where he patented the mercury cell for the chloralkali process in 1892. Originally called the Castner Gold Medal, 23 academics and industrialists have received the award to date, starting in 1947.

Lecture Details

The Castner Medal and Lecture are usually presented at the annual Electrochem conference. The Electrochem conference series is organised by SCI's Electrochemical Technology Group, RSC's Electrochemistry Group and Electroanalytical Sensing Systems Group. When this is not possible, the medal presentation and lecture takes place at SCI's headquarters.

2024 Recipient - Prof Nigel Brandon

The 2024 Castner Medal has been awarded to Professor Nigel Brandon OBE FREng FRS, Chair in Sustainable Development in Energy, and is Dean of Engineering, at Imperial College London. His research is focused on electrochemical technologies for the low carbon energy transition, in particular fuel cells, electrolysers and flow batteries. He is the founder of three companies in the sector, Ceres Power, a FTSE listed solid oxide fuel cell and electrolyser company, RFC Power, developing novel liquid-gas flow batteries for longer duration energy storage, and M-SPIN, manufacturing high surface area metals and oxides for a wide range of applications.

Eligibility Criteria

    Background
    • Authority on applied electrochemistry
    • In subjects connected with chemical research
    Career Stage
    • Authority
    • Mid - Late Career
    Areas
    • Electrochemistry
    • Electrochemical Technology

Timetable

Nominations open TBC
Nominations close TBC
Frequency Biennial

Related Links

Previous Recipients

Hamilton Castner

Wikipedia - Castner Medal and Lecture

Electrochemical Technology Group

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Additional Information

Code of Ethics for Members

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Separation technologies are used in every industrial Sector in which SCI operates, from energy and natural resources, through food and pharmaceuticals to chemicals and materials. This lecture honours those who are an authority in a branch of Separation Science and Technology.

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