James I. Prosser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Prosser
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Prosser in 2016
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| Born | July 1951 (age 74) |
James Ivor Prosser was born in July 1951. He is a British scientist who studies tiny living things called microorganisms. He is a professor at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where he teaches about how these tiny creatures live in our environment.
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Learning and Studying
James Prosser studied Microbiology at Queen Elizabeth College in London. Microbiology is the study of very small living things, like bacteria. He then earned his PhD degree from the University of Liverpool. A PhD is a very high university degree that shows someone is an expert in their field.
Exploring Tiny Worlds
Professor Prosser is a microbial ecologist. This means he studies how tiny living things, called microorganisms, interact with each other and their environment. He has helped us understand a lot about the different kinds of microorganisms and what they do in nature.
Soil Microbes and the Environment
A big part of his work focuses on tiny bacteria and archaea that live in the soil. These are called nitrifying bacteria and archaea. They can change nitrogen in the soil. This process can make nitrogen fertilisers less effective for plants. It can also create greenhouse gases, which are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere.
Professor Prosser's research has shown that there are many different types of these tiny creatures in the soil. He found that they each have special jobs, like different team members in a big project. For example, some of them are called ammonia oxidisers because they change ammonia in the soil. His work helps us understand how these tiny organisms affect our planet.
Tools for Discovery
To study these tiny living things, Professor Prosser uses special tools and methods. He creates experiments in the laboratory to test his ideas about how microorganisms behave. He has also developed molecular biology techniques. These are ways to study the DNA and other parts of microorganisms. This is very important because many of these tiny creatures cannot be grown in a lab dish. His methods help scientists learn about them even when they can't see them easily.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Professor Prosser has received many important awards for his work.
- In 2013, he was given the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award was for his great contributions to environmental science.
- He was also chosen as a Fellow of several important scientific groups. These include the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Society of Biology, and the American Academy of Microbiology.
- In 2016, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
Professor Prosser has also helped lead important science organizations. He served as a director for the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) and the Microbiology Society.
