Alan Soper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Soper
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Alan Soper at the Royal Society admissions day in London, July 2014
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Alan Kenneth Soper
15 June 1951 Romford, Essex
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| Alma mater | University of Leicester (BSc, PhD) |
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| Thesis | The Structure of Aqueous Solutions (1977) |
| Doctoral advisor | John Enderby |
Alan Kenneth Soper (born 1951) is a very important scientist. He studies water and other liquids at a big science lab in England. This lab is called the ISIS neutron source, which is part of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He is also a FRS, which is a high honor for scientists.
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Becoming a Scientist
Alan Soper went to The Campion School when he was younger. Later, he studied at the University of Leicester. He earned his first degree in 1973. Then, he continued his studies and received his PhD in 1977. His PhD research was about the structure of aqueous solutions, which are solutions where water is the main liquid. He did this research in France, with help from his supervisor, John Enderby.
Where He Worked
Before working at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in 1997, Alan Soper worked in other places. He was a researcher and a professor in Canada at the University of Guelph. He also worked as a staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States.
What He Studies
Alan Soper's main research is about how tiny particles, called molecules, are arranged in liquids. He looks at systems that are "disordered," meaning their molecules are not in a fixed, neat pattern.
He is a top expert on the structure of water and water-based solutions. He uses special tools like neutron diffraction and X-ray diffraction. These tools help him see how molecules are arranged. He also uses computer programs to build 3D models of these arrangements.
His work helps us understand how water molecules behave. This includes how they interact with other molecules and surfaces. His research is very important because water is vital for all living things.
Water in Extreme Places
Alan Soper has studied water in very unusual conditions. For example, he looked at water found deep in the ocean. He also studied water trapped in tiny spaces inside minerals. He found that this water can be under huge pressure, like being squeezed very hard.
Designing New Tools
Alan Soper also helped design a special instrument called NIMROD. This tool is used at the ISIS neutron source. It helps scientists study how molecules are arranged in liquids and other materials.
Awards and Honors
In 2014, Alan Soper was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very important award for scientists in the UK.
His nomination said that he is the world's leading expert on the structure of water. It also said he has made big contributions to studying other liquids and glasses. He also helped create new tools and methods for research.
In 2009, he was made a senior research fellow at the ISIS neutron source. This means he is a highly respected researcher at the lab.
