Keith Usherwood Ingold facts for kids

Keith Usherwood Ingold was a famous British-Canadian chemist. He was born on May 31, 1929, and passed away on September 8, 2023. Dr. Ingold was especially known for his important work on free radicals and antioxidants. His discoveries helped us understand how our bodies work and how we can stay healthy as we get older.

Early Life and Education

Keith Ingold was born in Leeds, England. His parents, Sir Christopher Ingold and Dr. Hilda Usherwood, were also chemists! It seems science ran in the family.

He studied Chemistry at the University of London and earned his first degree in 1949. He then went on to get his PhD in chemistry from Oxford University in 1951.

A Career in Chemistry

After finishing his studies, Keith Ingold moved to Canada. He started working at the National Research Council (NRC). He also spent two years doing more research at the University of British Columbia.

In 1955, he returned to the NRC. He became a research officer and later became the head of the Free Radical Chemistry Section. This was a very important role where he led studies on tiny, super-reactive particles called free radicals.

What are Free Radicals?

Imagine tiny, unstable molecules in your body. These are free radicals. They can sometimes cause damage to your cells, a bit like rust on metal. Dr. Ingold's research helped us understand exactly how these free radicals work and what they do.

The Power of Antioxidants

Dr. Ingold also focused a lot on antioxidants. Think of antioxidants as superheroes that protect your body from the damage caused by free radicals. One of the most famous antioxidants he studied was vitamin E. His work showed how vitamin E and other antioxidants could help prevent diseases linked to aging, like cancer. This research is super important for keeping people healthy as they grow older.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Ingold received many special awards for his amazing scientific work. Some of these include:

• The 1968 Petroleum Chemistry Award
• The 1988 Linus Pauling Award
• The Davy Medal (1990)
• The Royal Medal (2000)

The Royal Society gave him the Royal Medal for "explaining how reactions involving free radicals happen." This shows how much his discoveries changed our understanding of chemistry. In 1995, he was also made an Officer of the Order of Canada, which is a very high honor in Canada. He also received honorary degrees from many universities, including Guelph and McMaster.

Later Years

In his later career, Dr. Ingold continued to study antioxidants and their role in health. He was especially interested in how they could help prevent diseases that often come with old age. His work has made a lasting impact on how we understand health and aging.

Keith Ingold passed away in 2023 at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of important scientific discoveries.