PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2008

Team of German Researchers to Receive Honda Prize 2008 for
Their Achievement in Aberration-Corrected Transmission ElectronMicroscopy for High-Resolution Visualization of Atomic Structures
The Honda Foundation, co-founded by Soichiro Honda and his younger brother Benjiro
Honda, and currently headed by Hiromori Kawashima, is pleased to announce theHonda Prize for the year 2008 will be awarded to a German team of researchers ofelectron microscopy led by Dr. Maximilian Haider, Dr. Harald Rose, and Dr. KnutUrban. Their team developed the world-first Atomic Electron Microscope, a type oftransmission electron microscope (TEM) 1 capable of atomic-level imaging using
aberration correction technology. The team will be the 29th laureate of the prize.
The basic theory of aberration correction for high-resolution imaging was introduced by
Dr. Otto Scherzer of Germany in the 1940’s. Many researchers attempted, but failed, its
implementation as an aberration-corrected electron microscope; and experts hadquestioned its technical feasibility by the time the laureates, who thought otherwise,
were teamed in 1989. The laureates refined the basic theory in light of materials scienceand combined it with electron optical engineering techniques to attain the mechanicalstability required for electron microscopy. In 1997 they succeeded in making anaberration-corrected TEM that is capable of high-resolution imaging of atomicstructures.
This aberration-corrected microscopic technology used for the TEM is now madeavailable to microscope manufacturers in Germany, Japan and other countries throughCEOS, a project spin-off company headed by Dr. Haider, to be distributed worldwide
for its applications. The TEM has become one of the essential instruments for researchand development on an atomic level. It is used not only to produce ultrafine particles foradvanced, high-integrated semiconductor devices, but to analyze and examine theatomic arrangements, structures, and binding of various materials in industries likemetallic engineering, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Many users expect newmaterials could be discovered and macroscopic properties could be analyzed at atomiclevels by use of this technology.
In the research project, Dr. Rose has been chiefly responsible for the basic design of thecorrector and the refinement of the theory of image formation, whereas Dr. Urban hasworked for the application of the refined theory based on his expertise in materials
science, and Dr. Haider has used his knowledge in electron optical engineering for theelaborate design and development of this new aberration-corrected technology. The
Honda Foundation recognizes the three physicists for their spirit of challenge as well as
substantial contributions to human life through their sophisticated technologicalachievement that we believe embodies the ethos of Ecotechnology. 2

The 29th award ceremony for the Honda Prize will be held at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo
on Monday, November 17th 2008. In addition to the prize diploma and medal, a prize of
10 million yen will be awarded to the team of the laureates.

For more details:Please visit http://www.hondafoundation.jp or call the Honda Foundation at +81-3-3274-5125(Fax: +81-3-3274-5103, Local Address: 6-20, Yaesu 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0028,
JAPAN); or please call Honda Motor’s Public Relations at +81-3-5412-1512

1Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
A type of electron microscope which allows the user to determine the internal structureof materials on the image created by a beam of electrons being transmitted through anultra thin specimen, interacting with the specimen as it passes through it.
2Ecotechnology
Honda Foundation’s guiding principle since 1979 coined from ecology and technology,
where ecology connotes the entire global system including human civilization. This
technologic concept calls for harmonious development and use of technology withhuman beings and their environment.

Profile of 2008 Honda Prize Laureates

Dr. Harald H. Rose

Dr. Maximilian Haider

Dr. Knut Wolf Urban

Dr. Maximilian Haider
Born
23 January 1950, Freistadt, Austria
Education
Pre-diploma examination, University of Kiel
Continuation of Physics, Darmstadt University of Technology (TU Darmstadt)
Examination of Physics Diploma, TU Darmstadt, Prof. RoseCareer1982 Scientist, group of Prof. Dr. H. Rose at Inst. of Applied Physics
1983
Scientist, European Laboratory, Molecular Biology, Dr. A. V. Jones1987
Ph. D. to Dr. rer. nat. at the TU Darmstadt, Prof Rose.
1989
Head of Group, Application of a Scanning Transmission Electron
Microscope and development of Electron Microscopes
1996
Head of research project: Cs-Correction of a 200 kV TEM
1996
Managing Director, CEOS GmbH, Heidelberg
Dr. Harald H. RoseBorn14 February 1935, Bremen, Germany
Education
Studies in Physics & Mathematics, TU Darmstadt
Master Degree in Physics and Ph. D. in Physics, TU Darmstadt
Career1965
Post Doc. Position, Institute of Theoretical Physics, TU Darmstadt
1971
Associate Professor, Institute of Applied Physics, TU Darmstadt
1976
Principal Research Scientist, New York State Department of Health
1977
Adjunct Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
1980
Professor of Physics, Institute of Applied Physics, TU Darmstadt
1987
Visiting Professor, Physics, Jiaotong University Xian, China
2001
Research Fellow, Materials Science, Argonne National Lab., Argonne IL
2003
Research Fellow, Advanced Light Source, L. Berkeley National Lab.
Dr. Knut Wolf Urban
Born
1941, Stuttgart, Germany
Education
Studied physics and Doctor Degree, natural sciences, Technical Univ. of Stuttgart
CareerMax-Planck-Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart, Germany
Section de Recherche de Metallurgie Physique at CEN de Saclay/ Paris, France
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, India
Institute for Advanced Materials Processing, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1984
Professor in Materials Science, University of Erlangen
1987
Chair for Experimental Physics, RWTH Aachen University
1987
Founded Institute for Microstructure Research, Research Centre Juelich
2003
Founded Ernst Ruska Centre
2004
President and Vice-president, German Physical Society