John White (chemist) facts for kids
John William White (born 25 April 1937 – died 16 August 2023) was a very important professor. He taught Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at the Australian National University. This is a big university in Australia.
Professor White was a leader in his field. He was the president of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. He also led the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering. He worked at the University of Chicago and was a Fellow at St John's College, Oxford in England for many years. From 1975 to 1981, he was the director of a special research center in France called the Institut Laue-Langevin. He also helped start the International Society for Science and Religion.
Amazing Discoveries
Professor White and his team did exciting research. They found a simple way to create a very thin layer of oil on water. This thin film was about 90 atoms thick! They could then study this oil-water surface using special scientific tools.
Their research also looked at how tiny particles, called nanoparticles, interact with proteins. This work was important because it helped scientists understand how these interactions might affect public health.
Awards and Recognitions
John William White received many important awards for his work. Being a "Fellow" means you are recognized as a top expert in your field. He became a Fellow of several important groups, including:
- The Royal Society of Chemistry (in 1982)
- The Royal Australian Chemical Institute (in 1986)
- The Australian Institute of Physics (in 1986)
- The Royal Society of London (in 1993)
- The Australian Academy of Science (in 1991)
He also won several medals for his scientific achievements:
- The H. G. Smith Medal (in 1997)
- The Craig Medal (in 2005)
- The Leighton Medal (in 2005)
- The AONSA Prize (in 2015)
In 2001, he was given the Centenary Medal. This award celebrates people who have helped Australia. In 2016, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. This is a high honor given to Australians for their great achievements.
