kids encyclopedia robot

Archibald Howie facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Archibald Howie

CBE HonFRMS FRS HonFInstP
Archie Howie Cambridge 2007.jpg
Born (1934-03-08) 8 March 1934 (age 91)
Nationality British
Alma mater University of Edinburgh
Trinity College, Cambridge
Known for Interpretation of transmission electron microscope images
Awards Hughes Medal (1988)
Guthrie Medal and Prize (1992)
Royal Medal (1999)
John Cowley Medal (2018)
Scientific career
Fields Physics
Institutions University of Cambridge
Cavendish Laboratory
Notable students
  • John Steeds
  • Laurence D. Marks

Archibald "Archie" Howie is a famous British physicist born on March 8, 1934. He is known for his important work with electron microscopes. These special microscopes help scientists see tiny details inside materials. Archie Howie helped us understand what these microscope pictures mean, especially when looking at crystals.

He is a professor at the University of Cambridge. He has been a fellow at Churchill College since it started.

Who is Archie Howie?

Early Life and Education

Archie Howie grew up in Scotland. He went to Kirkcaldy High School. After that, he studied at the University of Edinburgh. He then moved to the University of Cambridge to earn his PhD. A PhD is a very high university degree. It means you have done a lot of advanced research.

After getting his PhD, he stayed at Cambridge. He became a permanent professor there. He has taught many students over the years.

His Work with Electron Microscopes

Archie Howie's main work is about transmission electron microscopy. This is a powerful way to look at materials. It uses a beam of electrons instead of light. This lets scientists see things much smaller than with a regular microscope.

He helped figure out how to read the images from these microscopes. This was very important for understanding how materials are built. His work helped many other scientists. They could then study crystals and other tiny structures better.

A Key Book for Scientists

In 1965, Archie Howie wrote a very important book. It was called Electron Microscopy of Thin Crystals. He wrote it with other scientists like Peter Hirsch and M.J. Whelan. This book became a guide for many researchers. It taught them how to use electron microscopes. It also showed them how to understand the pictures they took.

Awards and Recognition

Archie Howie has received many awards for his scientific work. These awards show how important his discoveries are.

  • In 1978, he became a member of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists in the UK.
  • He received the Hughes Medal in 1988.
  • In 1992, he was given the Guthrie Medal and Prize.
  • The Royal Society awarded him their Royal Medal in 1999. This is a special honor for his contributions to science.
  • He was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1995.
  • In 2018, he received the John Cowley Medal.

From 1989 to 1997, Archie Howie was the head of the Cavendish Laboratory. This is a famous physics department at the University of Cambridge. Many important discoveries have been made there.

kids search engine
Archibald Howie Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.