Howard Dalton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard Dalton
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| Born | 8 February 1944 New Malden
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| Died | 12 January 2008 (aged 63) |
| Alma mater |
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| Awards | Knight Bachelor |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Warwick |
| Thesis | Physiological Aspects of Growth of Azotobacter chroococcum in Continuous Culture (1968) |
| Doctoral advisor | John Postgate |
Sir Howard Dalton was a brilliant British microbiologist. Microbiologists are scientists who study very tiny living things called microbes. Sir Howard was also a FRS, which is a special honor for top scientists.
From 2002 to 2007, he was the Chief Scientific Advisor for the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). This means he gave important scientific advice to the government on topics like food, farming, and protecting the environment.
Early Life and Education
Howard Dalton was born in a place called New Malden in 1944. He went to school at Raynes Park County Grammar School.
After school, he studied at Queen Elizabeth College, which is part of the University of London. He finished his first degree in 1965. Then, he continued his studies at the University of Sussex. In 1968, he earned his PhD, which is a very high university degree.
Career and Discoveries
After getting his PhD, Sir Howard worked as a researcher at Purdue University and the University of Sussex. In 1973, he joined the University of Warwick as a lecturer. A lecturer is a university teacher. He became a full Professor in 1983.
Sir Howard was very interested in how certain microbes live and grow. He focused on organisms that can use methane as their food source. This process is called methanotrophy. Methane is a gas, and these microbes can break it down.
One of his main research areas was studying a special enzyme called particulate methane monooxygenase. An enzyme is like a tiny tool inside living things that helps chemical reactions happen. This enzyme helps microbes use methane. He studied specific microbes like Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylosinus trichosporium to understand this process better.
From 1999 to 2002, he was in charge of the Biological Sciences department at Warwick. After that, he became the Chief Scientific Advisor for DEFRA. He returned to the University of Warwick in 2007 and continued his work there until he passed away suddenly in 2008.
Awards and Honors
Sir Howard Dalton received many important awards for his scientific work.
- In 1993, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
- He was the President of the Society for General Microbiology from 1997 to 2000.
- In 2000, he was given the Leeuwenhoek medal lecture by the Royal Society.
- In 2007, he was named a Knight Bachelor in the New Years Honours list. This meant he could use the title "Sir" before his name.
- He was also the President of the Marine Biological Association from 2007 to 2008.
Sir Howard Dalton passed away on January 12, 2008, in Royal Leamington Spa.
