Ian Chapman (physicist) facts for kids
Sir Ian Trevelyan Chapman is a brilliant British scientist. He is known for his work in physics and energy. He was the chief executive of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). This organization works on developing fusion energy. In early 2025, it was announced that Sir Ian would be taking on a new challenge. He became the new CEO of UK Research and Innovation. This is a big organization that helps fund scientific research across the UK.
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Education and Early Research
Sir Ian Chapman went to school at Elizabeth College in Guernsey. He then studied at Durham University. In 2004, he earned a degree in Mathematics and Physics.
After his studies, Sir Ian joined the UKAEA's Culham laboratory. There, he started his PhD research in plasma physics. Plasma is a super-hot, charged gas, like the material inside the sun. His research focused on understanding and controlling this plasma. He worked with special machines called tokamaks. These machines are designed to hold the super-hot plasma to create clean energy. He finished his PhD in 2008.
Career in Fusion Energy
After getting his PhD, Sir Ian continued his research at Culham. He moved up through different roles in the UK's fusion energy program. In 2014, he became the Head of Tokamak Science. The next year, in 2015, he became the Fusion Programme Manager.
In October 2016, Sir Ian Chapman became the Chief Executive Officer of UKAEA. This meant he was in charge of the entire organization. He has written over 110 scientific papers. He has also given many important presentations at international conferences. Since 2015, he has also been a visiting professor at Durham University.
Working with Other Countries
Sir Ian has played a big part in international fusion research. From 2012 to 2014, he led a team for the Joint European Torus. This is a large fusion device in Europe. In 2013, he joined an advisory committee for a US experiment called NSTX-U. He has also led international groups for ITER. ITER is a huge international project building the world's largest tokamak. He also led projects within the EU fusion programme.
In April 2024, Sir Ian was also appointed as a non-executive director for UKRI. This was before he became its CEO.
Awards and Special Honours
Sir Ian Chapman's important research has earned him many awards. These awards show how much his work is valued. Some of his awards include:
- SET For Britain Best Early Career Physicist (2011)
- International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Young Scientist Prize (2012)
- Fellow of the Institute of Physics (2013)
- Institute of Physics Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize (2013)
- European Physical Society Early Career Prize (2014)
- Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2022)
- Fellow of the Royal Society (2023)
In 2023, Sir Ian was made a knight. This special honour was given to him for his great contributions to global fusion energy.
