Cyril Hilsum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cyril Hilsum
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Hilsum at the Second International Conference on Research and Communications in Physics
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| Born | 17 May 1925 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Known for | liquid-crystal science and technology |
| Children | Lindsey Hilsum and Karen Burt |
| Awards | FREng (1978) Max Born Prize (1987) Faraday Medal (1988) Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize (1997) Royal Medal (2007) |
Cyril Hilsum, born on May 17, 1925, is a famous British scientist and professor. He is known for his important work in physics. In 1983, he became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was because he was very creative and led the way in using special materials called semiconductors in electronics. These materials are super important for things like computers and phones!
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Life and Career
Cyril Hilsum started at Raine's Foundation School in 1936. He then went to University College London in 1943 to study for his science degree.
After finishing his studies in 1945, he joined the Royal Naval Scientific Service. This was a group that helped the navy with science. In 1947, he moved to the Admiralty Research Laboratory. Then, in 1950, he joined the Services Electronics Research Laboratory (SERL). He worked there until 1964.
Later, he moved to the Royal Radar Establishment. Here, he continued his important research.
Awards and Recognition
Hilsum has received many special awards for his work.
- In 1978, he won the Heinrich Welker Memorial Award.
- He was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
- In 1979, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.
- He also became an honorary member of the American National Academy of Engineering.
In 1983, he became the chief scientist at the Hirst Research Centre. This is a big research center for electronics. He continued to earn more awards:
- In 1987, he received the Max Born Prize.
- In 1988, he won the Faraday Medal.
- From 1988 to 1990, he was the president of the Institute of Physics.
- In 1990, he was given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his great contributions to the electronics industry.
A famous photographer, Nick Sinclair, took his picture in 1993. This photo is now kept in the National Portrait Gallery in London. In 1998, he received the Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize. He is the only scientist to have won both this medal and the Faraday Medal!
Later Contributions
Cyril Hilsum has also advised many important groups. These include Cambridge Display Technology and the European Commission. In 2007, he received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society. This award recognized his many amazing contributions to industry, government, and universities.
Today, Hilsum is the chairman of the scientific board for Peratech. He is also a visiting professor of physics at University College London. He helps with the Defence Scientific Advisory Council. He also supports the Karen Burt Memorial Award. This award is named after his daughter and helps women engineers.
Groundbreaking Research
While working for the Ministry of Defence, Cyril Hilsum helped create new uses for a material called gallium arsenide. This material is very important in electronics. He was also responsible for building the UK's first semiconductor laser. Lasers are used in many things, from DVD players to fiber optics.
He was also one of the scientists who developed the Ridley Watkins Hilsum theory. This theory helped explain how a special electronic device called the Gunn diode works. His research also helped create modern LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology. LCDs are what you see in your TV screens, computer monitors, and phone displays! His work brought in a lot of money for the UK government.
The British Liquid Crystal Society gives out a "Cyril Hilsum Medal" every year. This medal is for British scientists who have made great contributions to the science and technology of liquid crystals.
Family Life
Cyril Hilsum married Betty Hilsum. They had two daughters. One is Lindsey Hilsum, who is a well-known correspondent for Channel 4 news. Their other daughter was Karen Burt, an engineer who sadly passed away in 1997. The Women's Engineering Society created a special memorial award in her name.
