Donal Bradley facts for kids

Donal Donat Conor Bradley is a very important British scientist. He is currently the Vice President for Research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Before this, he worked at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. He is famous for his work on molecular electronic materials and devices.

These special materials are part of what's called plastic electronics. This technology helps make things like energy-saving displays, lights, and even devices that can create solar power. It could also help with medical tests and future communication technologies.

Education and Early Life

Donal Bradley went to Wimbledon College in London, where he was even the Head Boy. He then studied Physics at Imperial College London from 1980 to 1983. He did so well that he earned a top degree!

After that, he went to the University of Cambridge for his PhD. He finished his advanced studies in 1987.

Amazing Discoveries in Science

After finishing his PhD, Donal Bradley worked as a researcher. He even spent a year in Japan.

The Birth of Plastic Electronics

In February 1989, something big happened! Donal Bradley played a key role in discovering how certain plastics, called conjugated polymers, could create light. He suggested an experiment that led to the first observation of light coming from these materials.

Working with another scientist, Jeremy Burroughes, he studied these new light-emitting plastics. They showed that these materials could be used to make light-emitting diodes (LEDs). These LEDs were fast enough to be used in video displays!

A World-Changing Patent

Because their discovery was so important, Bradley and Burroughes decided to get a patent for it. A patent protects an invention, so others can't copy it without permission. Their patent described a device that uses a thin plastic film to create light when electricity passes through it.

In 1990, Donal Bradley was the main author of a famous article in the science magazine Nature. This article announced their discovery of light-emitting plastics to the world. This paper became one of the most cited (or talked about) papers in the field. It started a huge wave of new research and created the whole field of plastic electronics.

Impact on Science

Donal Bradley has published many scientific papers. His work has been cited by other scientists thousands of times. This shows how much his research has influenced the world of science.

Working at Top Universities

In 2015, Donal Bradley joined the University of Oxford. He became a Professor of Physics and Engineering Science. He also led the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division there.

In 2018, he was part of a discussion at Oxford about university pensions.

Then, in April 2019, he moved to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. He is now the Vice President for Research there.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Donal Bradley has received many awards for his amazing research. Some of these include:

• The Institution of Engineering and Technology Faraday Medal (2010)
• The Institute of Physics Faraday Medal (2009)
• The Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation (2007)
• The European Union Descartes Prize (2003) for his work on Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes for displays.

He was also recognized as an outstanding graduate of the Royal College of Science in 1983. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), which is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.

In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II made him a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to science.

Important Lectures

Donal Bradley has been invited to give many important lectures around the world. These lectures allow him to share his knowledge with other scientists and students. Some of his famous lectures include:

• The Royal Society Bakerian Lecture on "Plastic Electronics: their science and applications" (2010).
• The Institute of Physics Mott Lecture on "Plastic Electronics – The Science and Application of Molecular Electronic Materials and Devices" (2009).
• The European Science Foundation European Latsis Prize Lecture on "Nano-Engineering a Molecular Electronic Future" (2005).

Family Life

Donal Bradley's father was also a famous scientist! His dad was Professor Daniel Joseph Bradley, who was known for his work with lasers.