Homer Neal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Homer Alfred Neal
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Neal at the Physics Today roundtable, November 1991
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| Born | June 13, 1942 |
| Died | May 23, 2018 (aged 75) |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Particle physics |
| Institutions | CERN, University of Michigan |
| Notable students | Marjorie Corcoran |
Homer Alfred Neal (born June 13, 1942 – died May 23, 2018) was an American scientist. He was a particle physicist, which means he studied the tiny building blocks of the universe. He was also a respected professor at the University of Michigan.
Neal was the President of the American Physical Society in 2016. This is a very important group for physicists. He also served on the board of big organizations like the Ford Motor Company. He helped lead the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 1996, he was the temporary leader of the University of Michigan. Neal's research team worked on the ATLAS experiment at CERN in Geneva. CERN is a huge science lab where scientists use powerful machines to study particles.
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Early Life and Education
Homer Neal grew up in Franklin, Kentucky. He was an African-American during a time when many places were segregated. This meant people of different races were kept apart. He once had to stop being friends with a white friend because of this. But they had bonded over a shared interest in ham radio.
He earned his first degree in Physics from Indiana University Bloomington in 1961. He then got his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1966. A Ph.D. is the highest university degree you can get.
Leading Universities
Homer Neal held important leadership roles at universities. From 1976 to 1981, he was a Dean at Indiana University. A dean helps manage a part of the university. From 1981 to 1986, he was a provost at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. A provost is a senior leader who helps run the academic side of a university.
He also received special honorary doctorates. These are special degrees given to people who have achieved great things. He got them from Indiana University, Michigan State University, and the University of Notre Dame.
Public Service and Science Leadership
Homer Neal was involved in many important organizations. He served on the board of the Smithsonian Institution from 1989 to 2001. The Smithsonian runs many famous museums. He also served on the board of directors for the Ford Motor Company for 18 years. This is a very large car company.
Neal was a key figure in how science is managed in the United States. From 1980 to 1986, he was part of the National Science Board. This board helps decide how the National Science Foundation spends money on science research. He also led a committee that wrote the first big report on science education for college students.
He often spoke to the United States Congress. He shared his ideas about science and research with lawmakers. He also advised many top science labs. These included Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Fermilab.
In 2013, Neal was chosen to be the Vice-President of the American Physical Society (APS). This group has over 51,000 physicists from around the world. He became President of the APS in 2016. Homer Neal also helped write a book called Beyond Sputnik: U.S. Science Policy in the 21st Century. This book is about how science policy works.
In April 2014, many friends and colleagues honored Dr. Neal. They held a special event at the University of Michigan. They celebrated his experiments and his work in government.
Homer Neal passed away on May 23, 2018, at the age of 75.
Images for kids
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Neal at the Physics Today roundtable, November 1991
