John Mollon facts for kids

Professor John Dixon Mollon is a British scientist born on September 12, 1944. He is a very important researcher who studies how we see things. This field is called visual neuroscience. Many other scientists have used his work in their own studies.

Early Life and Learning

John Mollon studied at the University of Oxford. He earned degrees in Psychology (how the mind works) and Philosophy (the study of knowledge and existence). He continued his studies at Oxford to get his DPhil and later a DSc, which are advanced degrees.

Career Highlights

Working at Cambridge University

In 1976, Professor Mollon started working as a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. He taught there for many years. Later, he became a "Reader," which is a senior academic role. By 1998, he became a full Professor of Visual Neuroscience. This means he led research and teaching about how our brains process what we see.

He also became a Fellow at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1996. This is a special position within one of Cambridge's colleges. In 2011, he was named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow. Since 2013, he has been the President of the Fellows of the College. This role means he represents the other Fellows and helps the Master of the College.

Leadership Roles

Professor Mollon has held many important leadership roles. He was the Chairman of the Colour Group of Great Britain. He also served as the Honorary Secretary of the Experimental Psychology Society. He was the President of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. Since 2011, he has been the President of the International Colour Vision Society. This group focuses on how people see colors.

Key Contributions

Professor Mollon helped create the Cambridge Colour Test. This test helps doctors and scientists check how well people see colors. He also oversaw the creation of the Cambridge database of natural spectra. This database collects information about the colors found in nature.

Awards and Special Honors

Professor Mollon has received many awards for his important work:

• Rank Prize Funds Award for Work on Genetics of Colour Vision (1988)
• Edridge-Green Lecture (1988)
• Champness Lecture (1998)
• Newton Medal (1999)
• Kenneth Craik Award (2000)
• Tillyer Medal (2000)
• Verriest Medal (2005) - This award honors scientists who have made long-term contributions to the study of color vision.
• Lord Crook Medal (2008)
• Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) (1999) - This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.