Bas Pease facts for kids

Rendel Sebastian "Bas" Pease (born November 2, 1922 – died October 17, 2004) was a British physicist. He was famous for his work on nuclear fusion, a clean way to make energy. He also believed strongly that nuclear weapons should not be used. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, a very important award for scientists.

Early Life and Education

Rendel Pease was born in Cambridge, England. His father, Michael Pease, was a scientist who studied genetics. His mother was Helen Bowen Wedgwood. Rendel was also related to the famous potter, Josiah Wedgwood.

He was taught at home by his mother until he was about 11 years old. After that, he went to Bedales School. In 1940, he started studying science at Trinity College, Cambridge.

World War II Service

In 1942, Rendel's studies paused because of World War II. He joined the military as a science officer. He worked with the RAF Bomber Command. He helped trick the Germans during D-Day. This was a very important secret mission.

Working with Atomic Energy

After the war, Rendel went back to Cambridge. He finished his physics degree. In 1947, he joined the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) in Harwell, Oxfordshire. He first studied how tiny particles called neutrons affect materials.

Later, he became very interested in plasma physics. Plasma is a super hot, charged gas. He joined the team working on the Zero Energy Thermonuclear Assembly (ZETA) program. This project aimed to create energy using nuclear fusion. He became the leader of the physics group for ZETA.

Leading Fusion Research

In 1961, Rendel Pease became a Division Head at the Culham Laboratory. This lab was a top place for fusion research. In 1968, he became the director of Culham.

He strongly supported building a large Tokamak. A Tokamak is a machine that uses strong magnets to hold hot plasma. This work led to a big European project called the Joint European Torus (JET). JET is one of the largest fusion experiments in the world. Rendel Pease suggested that Culham should be the home for JET. This was a very important decision in his career.

Key Roles and Honors

Rendel Pease held many important jobs during his career:

• 1947-1961: Research scientist at Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell.
• 1961-1967: Division Head at Culham Laboratory.
• 1968-1981: Director of Culham Lab.
• 1973-1977: Vice President of the Institute of Physics.
• 1976-1984: Chairman of the International Fusion Research Council.
• 1977: Became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
• 1978-1980: President of the Institute of Physics.
• 1981-1987: Programme Director for Fusion at UKAEA.
• 1986-1987: Vice-President of the Royal Society.
• 1988-2002: Chairman of the British Pugwash Group. This group works to reduce wars and solve global problems.
• 1989: Awarded the Glazebrook medal for his work in physics.

Family Life

Rendel Pease married Susan Spickernell in 1952. They had five children: Rosamund Mary, Sarah Frances, Christopher Fabian Delves, Michael Roland Wedgwood, and Joanna Rowan. Susan passed away in 1996.

In 1998, Rendel married Jean Frances White, but she died two years later. In 2004, he married Eleanor Mary Barnes.

Rendel Pease passed away at the John Radcliffe Hospital in 2004. He was buried in West Ilsley, Berkshire. He is remembered for his important work in fusion energy and his efforts for a peaceful world.