From the citation:
The Pomerance Award is made to W.
David Kingery, Regents Professor of Anthropology and of Materials Science
and Engineering at the University of Arizona in recognition of his pathbreaking
studies in the history of ceramics and his notable contributions as a writer
and an editor to our understanding of technology innovation and the social
context of technology in the past.
Dr. Kingery received his Ph.D. from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1949 and rapidly became the leading
figure in the development of high-performance ceramics for modern technology.
Dr. Kingery and the British archaeometrist Michael Tite, working independently,
were largely responsible for applying electron microscopy
to the study of ancient ceramics, plasters, refractories, glasses, and
glazes. His work has transformed our understanding of the origins of pyrotechnology
in the Neolithic of the Near East, while his many publications have enhanced
our understanding of, and pleasure in, the fine ceramics of Classical Greece,
China, and the Renaissance.
Professor Kingery's accomplishments
have enriched archaeology, art history, and the history of technology,
and have profound implications for our understanding of the role of technology,
technological innovation, and technology transfer in past societies.