Agentic AI pioneer wins IET Faraday Medal
Professor Nick Jennings, a pioneer of agentic artificial intelligence and multiagent systems, has been awarded the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) 2026 Faraday Medal for research that has helped establish a major field of AI and translate its principles into practical applications.
Jennings is recognised for defining fundamental concepts in multiagent systems and developing some of their earliest real-world applications. His research focuses on enabling multiple autonomous agents and humans to collaborate, coordinate decisions and solve problems in complex environments.
The resulting technologies have been applied to disaster response, Olympic sporting performance and climate change monitoring, illustrating how theoretical advances in computer science can be adapted to challenges across different disciplines.
“It's great to see this recognition for multi-agent systems as a rapidly maturing and important subfield of AI,” Jennings said. Acknowledging the contributions of more than 100 PhD students and research fellows, he emphasised the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in connecting theoretical research with practical applications.
The presentation took place during the IET 2026 Achievement Awards, which also recognised research drawing on the science of human vision. Professor Alan Bovik received the JJ Thomson Medal for pioneering the application of visual neuroscience to digital image and video quality assessment.
His work uses models of human visual perception to evaluate and manage image quality, with applications across streaming video, television and social media. By helping digital systems distinguish between changes that viewers notice and those that have little perceptual impact, the research has contributed to more efficient handling of visual data and reduced bandwidth requirements.
Other recipients included Dr Qing-Chang Zhong, recognised for developing Synchronised-and-Democratised (SYNDEM) architecture and Virtual Synchronous Machine technologies to support electricity grid stability as renewable generation expands.
Professor Xiangjun Li received an IET Achievement Medal for work on large-scale wind, solar and energy storage management systems, while Professor Steven Shichang Gao was recognised for advances in antenna engineering and space technologies used in international satellite missions.
The Mensforth Medal went to Mamta Singhal for contributions to manufacturing sustainability, packaging compliance and responsible supply chains.
The IET Achievement Awards recognise contributions to engineering, technology and science through research, technical development and leadership. The 2026 recipients also included winners in the organisation’s apprentice, technician and professional development categories.
IET president Sam Hubbard said the awards demonstrated the impact of engineering across fields ranging from artificial intelligence and sustainable manufacturing to clean energy and digital communications.
