James Busfield recognised with prestigious international tyre industry award

The IRCO Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding service to the international rubber community through contributions to the International Rubber Conferences. Professor Busfield's award was approved unanimously by the IRCO Committee. 

Professor Busfield leads Queen Mary's internationally recognised Soft Matter Group, where he and his team investigate the behaviour of rubber materials and tyres. Their research has helped advance understanding of tyre wear, abrasion, rolling resistance and sustainability, working closely with industry partners to address challenges in tyre performance, durability and environmental impact.

In recent years, the team has focused on understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind tyre wear, helping move the industry beyond measuring wear towards understanding why it occurs. This work is supporting efforts to develop tyres that are safer, more energy efficient and more sustainable, while also improving understanding of the environmental impacts of tyre wear particles.

Reflecting on the award, Professor Busfield said:

"I'm honoured to receive the IRCO Medal. It's recognition not only of my work, but of the many students, researchers and industry collaborators who have contributed to advancing our understanding of tyre behaviour over many years."

The award highlights Queen Mary's long-standing contribution to rubber and tyre research and reflects the global impact of the University's work in materials science and engineering.

Presenting the medal at IRC 2026, Michael Clayton, Executive Chairman of IRCO, recognised Professor Busfield's contribution to the international rubber community and to the success of International Rubber Conferences worldwide. 

As transport industries seek to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability, Professor Busfield's research continues to demonstrate how fundamental scientific understanding can help address complex real-world challenges, shaping the next generation of tyre technologies.