Colin Windsor facts for kids

Colin George Windsor, born on June 28, 1938, is a well-known British scientist who specializes in physics. He was once a top manager at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, an organization that researches atomic energy. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special honor given to leading scientists for their important discoveries.

Early Life and Education

Colin George Windsor was born in London. He went to Beckenham and Penge Grammar School. He was a very bright student and won a scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, a famous university. There, he earned a top degree in Physics and later received his DPhil (a high-level research degree) in 1963.

Scientific Research and Career

After finishing his studies, Dr. Windsor started his research career.

Early Research

In 1963, he worked at the Clarendon Laboratory, where he studied something called magnetic resonance. This is a way scientists use magnets and radio waves to learn about materials. The next year, in 1964, he was a special researcher at Yale University in the United States.

Neutron Scattering Discoveries

From 1964 to 1998, Dr. Windsor worked at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell. Here, he focused on neutron scattering research. This method uses tiny particles called neutrons to "see" inside materials and understand how they are built. His work helped scientists learn a lot about different substances.

Awards and Recognition

For his important contributions to science, Dr. Windsor received the Duddell Medal and Prize in 1987. This award recognizes outstanding work in physics. In 1995, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is one of the highest honors for a scientist in the United Kingdom.

Later Career as a Consultant

After his long career at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Dr. Windsor continued to share his knowledge. From 1998 to 2013, he worked as a consultant at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. This center researches fusion, which is a way to create energy like the sun does. Later, from 2013 to 2023, he was a consultant for Tokamak Energy, a company in Oxfordshire that also works on fusion energy.

Published Works

Dr. Windsor has written several books about his scientific research:

• Pulsed Neutron Scattering, Taylor & Francis, 1981, ISBN: 978-0-470-27131-5
• Four computer models for the ZX81 micro-computer, C.G. Windsor, 1983, ISBN: 978-0-9509197-0-6
• D. L. Weaire, Colin G. Windsor (eds) Solid state science: past, present, and predicted, A. Hilger, 1987, ISBN: 978-0-85274-584-7