David Phillips (chemist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Phillips
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David Phillips in 2015, portrait via the Royal Society
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| Born | 3 December 1939 |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
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| Institutions | University of Southampton |
David Phillips (born 3 December 1939) is a British chemist. He is an expert in photochemistry, which is the study of how light causes chemical reactions. He also specializes in lasers. From 2010 to 2012, he was the president of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Early Life and School
David Phillips was born on December 3, 1939. He was born in a town called Kendal. Later, he lived in South Shields. He went to the Grammar School there.
After school, he went to the University of Birmingham. He earned two degrees there. First, he got his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. Then, he completed his PhD.
Career in Science
After finishing his PhD, David Phillips started his career. He did special research at universities. He worked at the University of Texas in the United States. He also worked at the Academy of Sciences in the Soviet Union.
Later, he became a chemistry teacher at the University of Southampton. He moved up through different roles. He became a Reader, which is a senior academic position. Then, he became a professor at the Royal Institution. This role was called Wolfson Professor of Natural Philosophy.
In 1981, David Phillips helped start the World Cultural Council. This group promotes science, art, and education. In 1989, he moved to Imperial College London. There, he became a professor of physical chemistry. He held many important jobs at Imperial College.
David Phillips has also appeared on television. In 1987, he gave the famous Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These lectures are science shows for young people. He was also a guest on popular radio shows. These included Desert Island Discs in 2011 and Private Passions in 2012.
He has received special awards for his work. In 1999, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2012, he received an even higher award. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). These awards were for his important contributions to chemistry.
Thoughts on Nuclear Energy
David Phillips has shared his views on nuclear power. He believes that the 1962 James Bond film Dr No created a bad image for nuclear energy. In the movie, the villain Dr. No has his own nuclear reactor. Phillips thinks this made people see nuclear power as dangerous. He says it made people think of it as something evil people might use.
Phillips believes this movie made the public unsure about nuclear power. He says that the Royal Society of Chemistry thinks nuclear power is important. They believe it should be a big part of how we get energy in the future. He argues that we need to stop using fossil fuels. This will help people live in a healthier environment. He encourages people to support nuclear energy. He wants to move past the "Dr. No's nonsense" idea.
Awards and Recognition
David Phillips has received several important awards. In 2010, he was given the Porter Medal. This medal recognizes great work in photochemistry. In 2015, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
