Fergus W. Campbell facts for kids

Fergus William Campbell (born January 30, 1924 – died May 3, 1993) was a Scottish scientist. He studied how our eyes work and how our brains process what we see. His research changed how scientists understood human vision.

Early Life and Education

Fergus Campbell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on January 30, 1924. His father was a pharmacist and doctor. His mother helped his father before taking care of their four children. Fergus was their second child and first son. His parents made sure their home was full of books and learning.

Fergus went to Glasgow High School for Boys. As a child, he loved to read. His teachers and father encouraged his hobbies. He was interested in chemistry, physics, optics, photography, electricity, and radio.

He studied medicine at Glasgow University Medical School. He graduated in 1946. After graduating, he planned to become an eye doctor (an ophthalmologist). He earned a special diploma in 1948.

However, Fergus became more interested in doing research than treating patients. He earned a PhD from Glasgow University in 1952. His PhD focused on how the eye's clear front part (the cornea) heals. He later got another advanced degree (an MD) in 1959. This MD focused on how clearly we see things at different distances.

Even though his research took him to Oxford University and University of Cambridge in England, he always remembered where he came from. His colleagues and students liked him very much. He was known for his kindness, generosity, and great stories.

While studying medicine, Fergus met Helen, who also became a doctor. They married in 1947 and had four children. Sadly, one of their children died at age 17. Fergus had a lifelong illness that affected his spine. He also had eye inflammation sometimes. He passed away on May 3, 1993.

Career in Vision Science

From 1948 to 1951, Fergus Campbell worked as an eye doctor. Then, he spent a year at Nuffield Laboratory in Oxford. There, he worked with T.C.D. Whiteside on aviation medicine, which studies how flying affects the body.

In 1953, Campbell became a lecturer at the Cambridge Physiological Laboratory. He stayed there for the rest of his career. He eventually became a professor of Neurosensory Physiology. He retired in 1991. He was also a Fellow at St. John's College.

Campbell guided many students and researchers. He supervised four PhD students, including David C. Burr and Roger Carpenter. He also worked with seven post-doctoral fellows, such as Colin Blakemore and Robert Shapley. These people went on to have their own successful careers in science.

He also worked with other important scientists. These included T. C. D. Whiteside and William Rushton.

Community and Professional Roles

From 1960 to 1962, Campbell served on the General Optical Council of the UK National Health Service. He represented educational interests for optometry, which is the practice of eye care.

He was also an editor for scientific journals. He was an Advisory Editor for Spatial Vision. He was also on the editorial board of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.

Awards and Recognition

Fergus Campbell received many honors for his work.

• In 1959, he gave the 14th Foundation lecture for the British Optical Association.
• In 1962, he became an honorary Fellow of The British Optical Association.
• In 1978, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very important scientific honor.
• He won the Tillyer Medal from the Optical Society of America in 1980.
• He received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Glasgow in 1986 and from Aston University in 1987.