Record

Authorised form of nameCoey; John Michael David (1945-2025); experimental physicist
Dates1945-2025
NationalityNorthern Irish
Place of birthBelfast, Northern Ireland
Date of birth24 February 1945
Date of death06 October 2025
OccupationExperimental physicist
Research fieldMaterials Science
Engineering
Experimental Physics
Physics
Spintronics
Magnetism
ActivityEducation:
University of Cambridge BA 1963-1966; Winnipeg, CA PhD 1968-1971
Career:
Sainik School Balachadi (1966-7); CNRS Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes, France (1971-1978); Research Professor (SFI), Professor of Experimental Physics, Trinity College, Dublin (1978-2025).
Memberships:
Royal Irish Academy
Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences
Institute of Physics
Mineralogical Society of America
Awards/Medals:
Fulbright Fellowship
Charles Chree Medal of the Institute of Physics 1997
Gold Medal of the Royal Irish Academy 2005
RDS INTEL Prize Lecture on Nanoscience 2012
Humboldt 2013
Gutenberg 2015
Max Born Medal and Prize 2019
D.Sc. Trinity College Dublin (honorary) 2023
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election15/05/2003
Age at election58
RelationshipsParents: David Stuart Coey CF and Joan Elizabeth Newsam.
Spouse: (m. 1973) Wong May Coey, poet.
Children: James and Dominic.
PublishedWorksRCN R71113
OtherInfoWorked in the field of magnetism and spintronics, seen as a world leader by the magnetism community. His work had important applications in areas such as increasing the efficiency of storing, processing and transferring information in computers.
Spintronics involves using the inherent spin magnetism of electrons to give them an increased ability to store binary data. These electronic magnets can either point up or down. An entrepreneur as well as physicist, Michael co-founded TEL Magnetic Solutions to create new magnetic processing tools for spin-based electronics. In addition, the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin was his brainchild.
Described as a visionary with a unique gift for defining and conceptualising the key issues in magnetism, allowing him to discover new magnetic materials and make significant contributions to the future of magnetic technology.
SourceThe Royal Society Fellows Directory, Professor Michael Coey FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/michael-coey-11244/; last accessed: 21/10/2025]
ORCID, John Michael David Coey, [URL: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0053-8452; last accessed: 21/10/2025]
Trinity College Dublin, School of Physics, News, Prof Michael Coey, 20 October 2025, [URL: https://www.tcd.ie/physics/news-events/news/2025/prof-michael-coey/; last accessed: 21/10/2025]
The Irish Times, Obituaries, Appreciation: Prof Michael Coey, known for his engaging lectures and inquiring intellect, 10 October 2025, [URL: https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2025/10/19/appreciation-prof-michael-coey-known-for-his-engaging-lectures-and-inquiring-intellect/; last accessed: 21/10/2025]
CodeNA8665
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
IM/001881Coey, John Michael David2003
EC/2003/07Coey, John Michael David: certificate of election to the Royal Society
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