Address:
Robinson Research Institute
P O Box 31 310
Lower Hutt 5040
Chris Bumby is an applied materials physicist whose research spans a diverse range of materials engineering topics, including hydrogen steelmaking, ceramic semiconductors and superconducting machines. Born and raised in England, Chris completed his DPhil. in Physics at the University of Oxford in 2005. Shortly afterwards, he arrived in New Zealand to undertake a Royal Society (UK) Fellowship at Victoria University of Wellington. He has subsequently never left...
Today, Chris is a Principal Scientist at the Robinson Research Institute of Victoria University of Wellington, where he works on a range of commercial and industry-facing applied research projects. At present he leads two research programmes funded by the NZ Government (MBIE) and supervises a number of postgraduate students. Further details of these projects and post-graduate opportunities available with Dr. Bumby can be found here.
The value of the MacDiarmid Institute to me is quite a personal thing. For the group as a whole it’s an extremely important link into the broader physical sciences community in New Zealand and particularly the fundamental and basic science community.
Dr Chris Bumby
Annual Report
May 27, 2020
This article from our 2019 Annual Report provides information about the MacDiarmid Institute's latest inventions, patents and spinouts.
Read more about Patents and Spinouts 2019 - Annual Report 2019
Annual Report
March 16, 2020
Steel and vanadium could be cleaned up thanks to our scientists.
Read more about Taking essential metals into a zero-carbon future - Annual Report 2019
In The Media
March 6, 2020
Dr Chris Bumby has received the HERA 2020 Innovation Award in recognition of his work towards developing a hydrogen-ironmaking process.
Read more about Hydrogen-steelmaking research wins Innovation Award
In The Media
January 28, 2020
Laurie Winkless speaks to the New Zealand scientists working to clean up the final frontier and how to make steel in a zero-carbon future.
Read more about How to reduce the carbon cost of building our world with steel
News Article
October 25, 2019
Seven MacDiarmid Institute Investigators have been awarded $20.29 million funding for their research through MBIE Endeavour fund.
Read more about MacDiarmid researchers successful in 2019 MBIE round
Annual Report
April 8, 2019
Funding successes for our investigators and their research programmes during 2018. This funding enables our researchers and collaborators to continue their breakthrough research in advanced materials and nanotechnology.
Annual Report
April 8, 2019
This article from our 2018 Annual Report provides information about the MacDiarmid Institute's latest inventions, patents and spinouts.
Read more about Patents and spinouts 2018 - Annual Report 2018
Interface Magazine
July 13, 2015
Commercialising high temperature superconductors is what the 25 scientists and engineers at the Robinson Research Institute (RRI) do best. Formerly part of IRL, and called the Superconductivity and Energy Team, the RRI is now part of Victoria University of Wellington.
September 15, 2020
Dr Chris Bumby and Dr Michel Nieuwoudt give their scientific take on whether fictional materials could be reality in a not too far off future.
Read more Materials: Fact or Fiction - Tauranga (19 October)
May 15, 2020
Dr Chris Bumby discusses the science behind Adamantium from the Marvel Universe with RadioNZ Nights' Bryan Crump.
March 26, 2020
In this episode of RadioNZ's 'Materials: Fact or Fiction' Dr Chris Bumby discusses Mithril from Lord of the Rings.