Dillwyn Medal for Engineering, Physical Sciences and Maths 2026: Dr David Williams

Dr David Williams won the Learned Society of Wales’s 2026 Dillwyn Medal for Engineering, Physical Sciences and Maths, recognising his innovative and practical solutions in advanced imaging techniques. 

David is a medical engineer in Cardiff University’s Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Facility, with a remarkable record for someone still in the early part of their career. He brings his engineering expertise to the worlds of medical imaging and clinical biomechanics, delivering notable advances in the use of advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI and biplane X-ray. 

These analyse musculoskeletal biomechanics and can measure how the spine and joints are working during real-world movement. This brings numerous benefits for orthopaedics, rehabilitation, disease management and surgical planning. People suffering from ankle, knee, shoulder or back problems may have David’s work to thank for providing a solution. 

This outstanding output has already generated significant sums of research funding and numerous accolades and awards, including several from the British Orthopaedic Research Society.