Ian Chapman (physicist) facts for kids
Sir Ian Trevelyan Chapman is a top British scientist who leads the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). This organization works on developing fusion power, which is a way to create clean energy, similar to how the sun makes energy. Sir Ian is also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very respected group of scientists.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Ian Chapman went to school at Elizabeth College, Guernsey. He then studied at Durham University and earned a degree in both Mathematics and Physics in 2004.
After university, he joined the UKAEA's Culham laboratory. There, he started working on his PhD in plasma physics with Imperial College London. His research focused on understanding and controlling tiny movements inside the super-hot gas, called plasma, that is used in fusion machines called tokamaks. He finished his PhD in 2008.
Working in Fusion Science
After getting his PhD, Ian Chapman 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, he took on the biggest role: Chief Executive Officer of UKAEA. This means he is in charge of the whole organization.
He has written over 110 scientific papers and given many talks at big international science meetings. In 2015, he also became a visiting professor at Durham University, where he helps teach and guide students.
Helping Fusion Worldwide
Ian Chapman has played important roles in fusion research around the world. From 2012 to 2014, he led a team for the Joint European Torus (JET), which is a large fusion experiment in the UK. In 2013, he joined an advisory group for a US experiment called NSTX-U. He has also led international groups for the huge global fusion project called ITER. This project is building the world's largest tokamak to show that fusion energy can work on a large scale. He also helped manage projects within the EU fusion program.
In April 2024, he was also asked to join the board of UKRI, which is a big organization that helps fund research in the UK.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Ian Chapman has received many awards for his important work in science, including:
- SET For Britain Best Early Career Physicist (2011)
- International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Young Scientist Prize (2012)
- Fellowship of 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, he was made a knight by the King. This is a special honour given for his important contributions to fusion energy around the world.
