Colin Eaborn facts for kids

Colin Eaborn (born March 15, 1923 – died February 22, 2004) was a famous British scientist. He was known for helping to create the School of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences at Sussex University.

Colin was born in Chester. He earned top grades from Bangor University. After doing research during World War II, he became a researcher at University College, Leicester in 1947.

In 1951, he won a special award called a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. This allowed him to work for a year at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1960, he published an important book called Organosilicon Compounds.

In 1961, Colin became a science professor at the new Sussex University. He created new ways of teaching and earning degrees. By the mid-1970s, his team included two Nobel Laureates and seven Fellows of the Royal Society.

For his great work, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1970. He also served on the Society's Council in the 1970s and 80s. Colin Eaborn retired in 1988 and passed away in Brighton on February 22, 2004.

Colin Eaborn's Early Life

Colin Eaborn was born to a joiner (someone who builds things with wood) and his wife. When he was six months old, his family moved to Wales. They moved there to find work.

Colin and his sister went to the Holt Endowed School, which was their local village school. From 1934, he studied at Ruabon Grammar School. In 1941, he started studying chemistry at Bangor University. He planned to become a teacher after he finished his studies.

While at Bangor, he met Joyce Thomas, who was an English student. They got married in 1949. Colin earned top honors at Bangor. His studies were greatly helped by a famous chemist named Ted Hughes, who joined the university in 1943.

After graduating, Colin continued to work at Bangor. This was because a law required scientists to help with the war effort.

His Academic Work

In 1947, Colin Eaborn became an assistant researcher at University College, Leicester. At that time, it was a small department. It had only five staff members and not much money for research.

Despite this, he published his first science paper in 1949. This paper was based on work he had done at Bangor. He continued to publish many research papers, eventually writing over 500!

In 1950, he became a Lecturer. In 1954, he was made a Reader. This was part of Leicester's efforts to become a university. They needed famous people to help raise its profile.

In 1951, he received a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. This allowed him to spend a year working at the University of California, Los Angeles. He worked with Saul Winstein and his research team.

Thanks to money from the United States Air Force and Army, Colin was able to build a team. His team included 15 researchers and students. In 1960, he published his important textbook, Organosilicon Compounds.

This book had a big impact on a field of chemistry called organometallic chemistry. This field is very useful in making new materials and in other areas of science.

Building Sussex University's Chemistry School

In 1961, Colin Eaborn became one of the first four science professors at Sussex University. While there, he completely changed the School of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences.

He grew the department from four scientists to 40 by the mid-1970s. This group included two Nobel Laureates and seven Fellows of the Royal Society.

Instead of dividing the department by different types of chemistry, he mixed them. Researchers were encouraged to share their work and help each other.

Colin also started a "degree by thesis" program. In this program, students could earn their degree by writing a long paper (a thesis) and having an oral exam. They did not need to take traditional written exams. This program was good at attracting students who were original thinkers and self-motivated.

Colin also introduced "crash courses." These courses taught a subject quickly over a few weeks instead of spreading it out over a year. He was the first Dean of the School of Molecular Sciences until 1968. From 1968 to 1972, he was the first Pro-vice-chancellor for Science. He retired in 1988 and passed away peacefully in his sleep in 2004 after a long illness.

Awards and Other Work

Colin Eaborn was the first person outside of America to receive the Frederick Stanley Kipping Award. This award was given by the American Chemical Society for his many articles and publications.

From 1963 to 1993, he was an editor for the Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. In 1970, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. He served on its council from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1988 to 1989.

Between 1965 and 1970, he was the Honorary Secretary of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He received several awards from them:

• The Organometallic Award in 1974
• The Ingold Award in 1976
• The Main Group Award in 1988