Prof. James M. Kelly, awarded by the 2012 Mahathir Science Award for his contribution to the development of seismic rubber bearings that can protect buildings from the impacts of earthquakes.
Kelly, a British-born professor who was named the father of base isolation in the United States, was chosen among 31 nominees from 11 different countries around the world to receive the 2012 Mahathir Science Award.
Kelly started working during the 1980s in the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre in Great Britain to assed the if the natural rubber bearings have potential to protect buildings and bridges from the damages that are caused by earthquakes.
He tested hundreds of bearings that were used in 100 hundred structures and more around the world which was also used in the Penang Bridge and Penang Second Bridge.
Along with the certificate of recognition and gold medal, Kelly will receive the increased cash price of RM 305,000.
This is the first time that someone from the Tropical Architecture and Engineering field was chosen for the awared.
“The winner was picked through a voting process by Fellows of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia based on evaluations made by an International Advisory Panel, which included Nobel Prize winner Prof Lee Yuan Tseh from Taiwan,” he said.
“Hopefully in the future, the award will evolve into something that the international scientific community looks forward to just like the Nobel Prize,” he said. (PRA)