Pioneering Professor Peter Jost has been awarded a Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution in developing a little-known but important branch of science and engineering – the first foreigner to be so honoured.

It was conferred on the UK industrialist and engineer by the Chinese Tribology Institution in recognition of his work and was received on his behalf in Beijing by British Embassy Science and Innovation Counsellor David Bacon.

Tribology is the science and engineering of reducing friction, wear and tear. Its origins are in engineering, but now extend to medicine (eg artificial joints), dentistry and even nano tribology.

Significant savings in costs, energy consumption and materials can be achieved through its successful application and China has just completed a two-year study into its impact in industry.

Professor Jost is also President of the International Tribology Council and, with Professor Zhang Si-Wei, Chairman of the Chinese Tribology Institute’s Advisory Board, launched internationally the concept of Green Tribology earlier this year.

The Professor is also the first Honorary Member of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, which has also honoured him as Science and Technology Ambassador.

He led the first Western science and technology mission to China in May 1979 after agreement of China’s policy on opening up in November 1978 and the signing of the UK-China agreement on science and technology.

               

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