Granville Beynon facts for kids

Sir William John Granville Beynon, known as a Welsh physicist, was born on May 24, 1914, in Dunvant and passed away on March 11, 1996, in Aberystwyth. He was a very important scientist who worked closely with Sir Edward Victor Appleton. Together, they studied the Ionosphere, which is a special part of Earth's upper atmosphere.

Early Life and Education

William John Granville Beynon was born in Dunvant, a village near Swansea, Wales. He was the youngest of four children. His father worked as a miner and had important jobs like checking weights and leading the local mine rescue team.

William went to Gowerton Grammar School. After that, he went to the University of Swansea to study physics, which is the science of how the world works, from tiny atoms to huge galaxies.

Discovering the Ionosphere

In 1938, after finishing his studies, William Beynon started working at the National Physical Laboratory in Slough, near London. Here, he worked closely with Sir Edward Victor Appleton.

Their main work was studying how radio waves travel. They focused on how these waves bounce off certain layers in the Earth's atmosphere. These layers are part of what scientists call the Ionosphere. The Ionosphere is a region high above Earth where the air is full of electrically charged particles. These particles can reflect radio waves, which is how radio signals can travel long distances around the world.

William Beynon and Sir Edward Appleton's teamwork lasted for many years. Beynon often represented Sir Edward in important national and international science groups.

A Global Science Leader

William Beynon played a big part in planning and carrying out the International Geophysical Year in 1957 and 1958. This was a huge worldwide project where scientists from many different countries worked together to study Earth's physical properties. It was a major step forward for international cooperation in science.

After this, Beynon became one of the most important people in international scientific teamwork. He was especially active in the International Union of Radio Science (URSI). His strong efforts even helped save a big European radar project called EISCAT. This project helped scientists learn more about special atmospheric events that happen in places far north, like near the Arctic.

In 1942, William Beynon married Megan James. They had two sons and one daughter.

Teaching and Honors

From 1946, William Beynon continued his physics studies at the University of Swansea.

In 1958, he began teaching at the University of Aberystwyth. He later became a full professor there and stayed until 1991. For a long time, he was also the chairman of the "Schools Council Committee for Wales," helping to guide education in Wales.

From 1972 to 1975, he was the president of the International Union of Radio Science. He also led the "Year of the Quiet Sun" project, which studied the sun when it was less active.

His amazing contributions to science were recognized in many ways:

• In 1973, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
• In 1976, he was knighted, which means he was given the title "Sir."
• In 1983, he won the Chree medal and prize, another important award for his work in physics.

Sir William John Granville Beynon passed away on March 11, 1996. To honor his legacy, the EISCAT project has given out 8 Sir Granville Beynon medals to distinguished scientists since 2002.