Max Swerdlow Award for Sustained Service to the Applied Superconductivity Community

To recognize sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology either through the demonstration of exceptional service to and leadership within the community, the formulation and promotion of major programs in applied superconductivity or through leadership and management roles in a major research organization. Named after the late Max Swerdlow who, starting in the 1960’s and continuing for more than 20 years, served as Program Manager for Superconductivity at the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). His office funded the majority of the programs in the US on superconducting materials and large-scale applications of superconductivity other than those funded by the Department of Energy. Max Swerdlow’s dedication and perseverance in the support of these activities played a crucial role in the maturing of applied superconductivity. 

Historical Background:

The award is named for the late Max Swerdlow.  Starting in the 1960s and continuing for more than 20 years, he served as the Program Manager for Superconductivity at the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).  His office funded the majority of the programs in the US on superconducting materials and large-scale applications of superconductivity other than those funded by the Department of Energy.  Max Swerdlow's dedication and perseverance in the support of these activities played a crucial role in the maturing of applied superconductivity.

Prize:
$5,000, Plaque suitably inscribed, and a medallion fabricated from niobium metal, at least ten centimeters in diameter and suitably engraved. Multiple awards are allowable.
Funding:
Funded by the IEEE Council on Superconductivity. In any given year, none, one or more awards may be made depending on the qualifications of the nominees and the availability of funds from the IEEE Council on Superconductivity. Award is funded via Council on Superconductivity Award Fund in the IEEE Foundation.
Presentation:
During an opening or plenary session of an appropriate international conference on applied superconductivity affiliated with the IEEE Council on Superconductivity.
Basis for Judging:
Individual’s professional activities in the field of applied superconductivity and the perceived contribution of the individual to the advancement of the field of applied superconductivity.
Eligibility:
Sustained activity in the field of applied superconductivity for a minimum of about 20 years, irrespective, of the field of discipline or functions, performed to advance or promote the field of applied superconductivity. Candidates must be living, but can be retired at the time of the Award. The recipient is also expected to attend the international conference at which the Award would be presented. No individual can receive this award more than one time. Land and email submissions accepted.
Nomination Details:

Nomination Form and all supporting documents (including letters of support) must be completed no later than 28 February of the award year.

For further information on the Max Swerdlow Award, contact:

Joseph Minervini
VP Awards and Recognitions
IEEE Council on Superconductivity
[email protected]

Nomination Form:

Robert George Buckley

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the
technology, in particular:
• For his leadership in the development and industrialization of high temperature superconductors internationally;
• For the establishment and leadership of a sustained national research program in New Zealand in applied superconductivity
over 28 years,
• For his promotion of the commercialization of high temperature superconductivity through government-industry
partnerships and for his role in the founding of HTS-110 Ltd. and
• For his activities as an advocate for the field of applied superconductivity at the local, national, and international level.

Robert Fagaly

• for his leading role in the development and commercialization of
superconducting sensors in scientific, clinical and industrial applications;
• for his leadership in the development and promulgation of standards in the
applied superconductivity community; and
• for his sustained service and leadership contributions to the IEEE Council on
Superconductivity, the Applied Superconductivity Conference and the US
Department of Commerce’s Technical Advisory Committee.

Ron B. Goldfarb

For sustained leadership and exceptional service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular:
• for developing and disseminating widely accepted protocols for the magnetic measurement of alternating-field losses in superconductors;
• for leading the superconductor wire characterization program at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology from 2000 to 2015; and
• for promoting the growth of the IEEE Council on Superconductivity and its publications.

Elie Track

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular:
• for his over three decades of successful, insightful leadership in the field of applied superconductivity at the intersection of basic science, materials development and device technology,
• for his sustained service and leadership contributions to the IEEE Council on Superconductivity, the Applied Superconductivity Conference and the IEEE Rebooting Computing Initiative; and,
• for his long and continuing activities as an ambassador and advocate for the field of applied superconductivity at the local, national, and international level.

Antonio della Corte

For sustained leadership and exceptional service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular:
• for his founding and gifted leadership of the Italian Consortium for Applied Superconductivity (ICAS);
• for enthusiastic leadership of the Superconductivity Laboratory of the Italian National Research Agency, ENEA, and his tireless and successful efforts in motivating and stimulating its young scientists and engineers; and,
• for recognized leadership within the applied superconductivity community as researcher, member, and President of the IEEE Council on Superconductivity.

Susan Butler

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular:
• for building coalitions, and unstinting support at the local, state, national, and international level for meetings and conferences to promote applied superconductivity, technically and politically;
• for outstanding encouragement and stimulation of high school and university students, teachers, and industry partners to explore applied superconductivity and help create the next generation of scientists and engineers; and
• for championing women and promoting diversity in science, technology, and business.

Kenichi Sato

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular:
• for developing magnet-grade HTS wires and their applications to power cables, magnets and motors (1988-2016),
• for serving as Secretary of IEC/TC90 (1989-2013), Program Officer of JST (2009-present) and Co-Editor of Superconductivity News Forum (2014-present)
• for serving as President of the Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan (2012-2016), and a Board Member of ICMC (2001-present).

Richard E. Harris

For sustained leadership and exceptional service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular,
• for exceptional leadership in growing the National Institute of Standards and Technology superconducting electronics program into one of the world's most creative and productive superconducting research and development organizations,
• for promoting a culture that takes superconducting electronics research from fundamental through to dissemination and
• for mentoring and encouraging exceptional scientists in the field of superconducting electronics.

David G. Hawksworth

For sustained leadership and exceptional service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular,
• for playing a key role in the process which has changed MRI from a scientific novelty to a reliable, trusted and widely available clinical procedure,
• for leading the development at Oxford Magnet Technology of 4T whole body and 1T and 1.5T active shield MRI systems and an ongoing range of cost and performance optimized MRI magnet systems, and
• for promoting a culture of quality and ‘best practice’ in the production of MRI magnets.

Paul Ching-Wu Chu

For sustained leadership and exceptional service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular,
• for his efforts in establishing and promoting major programs in applied superconductivity funded by the US and international federal agencies,
• for being a forceful proponent of applied superconductivity by organizing and encouraging workshops, conferences, and committees to advance the US and international cooperation in the field, and
• for his role as Founding Director and Chief Scientist of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, where he built one of the outstanding multidisciplinary academic research centers in superconductivity with activities spanning basic materials investigation, optimization of materials for potential applications, and, ultimately, the use of these materials in a variety of small- and large-scale applications.


Harold Weinstock

For sustained leadership and exceptional service to the applied superconductivity community, in particular,
• for his long-term efforts promoting the use of SQUID magnetometry in various application areas especially non-destructive evaluation and biomagnetic imaging,
• for organizing and chairing a series of NATO Advanced Study Instituted dealing with superconductivity and applied superconductivity that introduced a large number of current generation researchers to the field, and,
• for formulating and directing a very strong program at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research focused on both large-scale and small-scale applications of superconductivity, involving academic, government and industrial researchers, and in basic research in superconductivity including programs directed at the search for room temperature superconductivity.

Robert Aymar

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular:
• for promotion and leadership in the development of many large-scale superconducting magnet systems, such as Tore-Supra, LHC and ITER, and for directing research for the next generation devices beyond LHC and ITER, and,
• for chairing numerous committees for promoting academic research and organizing workshops related to applied superconductivity and large-scale superconducting magnets.

Bruce Strauss

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular:
• for his leading role as researcher and manager at national laboratories, industry, in the U.S. Government, in R&D, production, and system engineering of superconducting wires and magnets
• for his pioneering work in combining vigorous engineering practices with solid cost analysis in the specification, design, and construction of a variety of challenging High Energy Physics projects, and,
• for his long-term leadership in the applied superconductivity community through his volunteer work in private and public sectors, guiding the activities of numerous conferences and organizations including the Applied Superconductivity Conference, the Magnet Technology Conference, and the IEEE Council on Superconductivity.

Horst Rogalla

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular:
• for initiating and directing a broad research program in superconducting electronics devices, materials research, and large-scale applications of superconductivity at the University of Twente which has made that institution one of the leading academic research centers in applied superconductivity worldwide, and,
• for initiating and leading a number of European consortia, such as the European Society of Applied Superconductivity (ESAS), which has helped to raise the level of excellence in superconductivity within Europe

Moises Levy

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular:
• for his exceptional visionary and wise leadership in the IEEE Council on Superconductivity from 1994 through 2006 to promote, enhance and recognize the practice and practitioners of this technology, and.
• for his efforts in promoting the cooperation of the IEEE with other activities and organizations in superconductivity such as the Applied Superconductivity Conference and the Magnet Technology Conference in particular.

Luguang Yan

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular
• for organizing and directing Chinese programs in high magnetic field superconductive magnets, MHD power generation and MHD ship propulsion,
• for initiating and directing programs in inductive energy storage systems, renewable energy power generation and MAGLEV transportation systems, and promoting the commercial operation of the first MAGLEV train in China, and,
• for his role in promoting Chinese participation in many international programs and for his contribution to the international applied superconductivity community including serving as Chair of many international conferences including MHD-11, MAGLEV-2005, MT-15 and MT-21.

James Daley

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, by organizing and leading the US Department of Energy program in electrical utility applications of high-temperature superconductivity which has been one of the leading superconductor application programs in the world, in particular
• for his vision, foresight, and leadership of the program from its inception in 1987 until his retirement in 2006, and
• for establishing collaboration among industry, academia, and national laboratories and employing annual peer reviews to maintain an aggressive and technically innovative program.


Sir Martin Wood

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular,
• for his innovative and bold approach to commercializing superconducting magnets and magnet systems and other types of scientific instrumentation by founding and leading Oxford Instruments to a place of prominence in the marketplace as one of the leading superconductivity companies in the world.

David F. Sutter

For sustained service, as Program Manager for Advanced Technology Research and Development for the Office of High Energy Physics, U.S. Department of Energy, to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, and in particular:

• for his strong and sustained support for research and development efforts in superconducting materials and magnet technology
• for being a co-founder, of a series of Low Temperature Superconductor Workshops (LTSW) that have been responsible for improvements in both NbTi and Nb3Sn conductors
• for structuring the Advanced Technology Research and Development Program so that it was vertically integrated from basic science to the engineering and construction of superconducting accelerator components

all of which has had a strong positive influence on both big science projects and on the applied superconductivity industry.

Shoji Tanaka

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular,
• for his role in the founding of the International Superconductivity Technology Center (ISTEC) (Tokyo, Japan) under the support of the Government and many industries and for serving, since its founding, as vice president of ISTEC and Director General of the Superconductivity Research Laboratory (SRL) which is one of the largest R&D organizations in the world devoted to applied superconductivity
• for promoting and directing many national programs in both electronic and large-scale applications
• for organizing many conferences and workshops on all aspects of applied superconductivity
• and for being a forceful spokesperson for applied superconductivity in Japan and in the international arena.

Yoshihiro Kyotani

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a unique and lasting influence in introducing superconductivity to the transportation field: in particular,
• for his role in proposing and in leading the magnetic levitation (MAGLEV) railroad project in Japan from its inception to its present level of development,
• or his technical skills in developing a total system with its (low temperature) superconducting magnet suspension systems and the associated cryogenics into a realistic and viable transportation concept, and
• for his strong leadership that has resulted in sustained magnetic levitation progress over the past thirty years.

Edgar A. Edelsack

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular:
• as a Program Manager at the US Office of Naval Research, for supporting superconducting electronics research in the US for more than thirty years ending in the late 1980's
• for encouraging, funding and sponsoring researchers who became the senior US researchers in the field
• for sponsoring the transition of superconducting electronics from the laboratory into the field in areas such as SQUID magnetic sensors, high-frequency devices and detectors and digital circuits
• for his encouragement of and participation in the initial measurement of the human heart with a SQUID magnetometer which led directly to the establishment of biomagnetism as a research area and as a clinical discipline
• for his role in encouraging the dissemination of information about superconducting technology through many study groups and workshops, two of which eventually became the Applied Superconductivity Conference and the International Cryocooler Conference


Carl H. Rosner

For sustained service to the applied superconductivity community that has had a lasting influence on the advancement of the technology, in particular:
• for demonstrating exceptional technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills in establishing a successful and profitable commercial supplier of high field superconducting magnet systems, superconducting materials and cryogenic refrigeration systems, which has been a model for other companies attempting to commercialize superconducting technology
• for being a strong advocate and spokesperson to the industrial, financial and technical communities
• or advocating the utilization of applied superconducting equipment to achieve large-scale energy savings