Professor Michael Coey, who has died aged 80, was one of Ireland’s most distinguished physicists and a global authority on magnetism.
Based at Trinity College Dublin for more than four decades, Prof Coey’s career was marked by pioneering research, wide-ranging international collaborations and a deep commitment to education and public engagement.
He leaves behind a legacy that spans the academic, scientific and cultural life of Ireland and far beyond.
Born in Belfast in 1945, Coey developed an early fascination with the natural world. He studied at Cambridge University before completing a PhD at the University of Manitoba in Canada.
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Early in his career, he held research posts at IBM and at the CNRS in Grenoble, France, and collaborated extensively across India, China, the United States and Europe – an adventurous spirit underpinning his global scientific reach.
He joined Trinity in 1978 and was later appointed the Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, a position he held with distinction.
Known for his engaging lectures and inquiring intellect, he was a fixture in the college’s academic life and was deeply involved in undergraduate teaching until very recently.
Prof Coey was central to the foundation of the Crann Nanoscience Research Centre at Trinity, alongside professors John Pethica and John Boland. The centre has grown into a world-leading hub for nanoscience and materials research, bridging disciplines of physics and chemistry to explore magnetic and electronic materials with real-world applications.
His scientific contributions were broad and influential. A leading figure in the field of magnetism and spintronics, he worked on permanent magnets – crucial for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems – as well as thin films and multilayer materials used in sensing and data storage.
Among his discoveries was the high-performance magnetic compound Sm₂Fe₁₇N₃. He also explored novel areas such as magneto electrochemistry and the magnetic properties of everyday materials, often using resourceful “benchtop” methods to achieve breakthrough results.
In recognition of his outstanding work, Prof Coey was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. He received numerous accolades, including the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal and the Max Born Medal.
Throughout his career, he remained devoted to mentoring the next generation of scientists. He supervised more than 40 PhD students, published more than 800 peer-reviewed papers, wrote several influential textbooks and held 25 patents. He was also co-founder of Magnetic Solutions, a Trinity spin-out company focused on magnet technologies for semiconductor manufacturing.
Beyond the laboratory, he played a leading role in founding the Science Gallery in Dublin, a groundbreaking space that combined art and science to inspire public engagement with research. He was a regular and enthusiastic participant in Trinity traditions, including the annual Scholars and Fellows announcement.
A passionate traveller, Prof Coey often regaled friends and colleagues with tales of road and rail journeys through India, Siberia and the US. He was married to the poet and artist Wong May and brought the same curiosity and appreciation to the arts as he did to science.
He is survived by Ms May and their sons James and Dominic.
In remembering Prof Coey, colleagues have spoken of a man of rare intellect, kindness and energy – an inspiring teacher, a generous mentor and an innovator whose work will continue to shape science and society for decades to come.
