Malcolm Longair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malcolm Longair
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Malcolm Longair in 2013 at the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC), held at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore. Portrait by Mark McCaughrean of the European Space Agency
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| Born |
Malcolm Sim Longair
18 May 1941 Dundee, Scotland
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| Education | Morgan Academy |
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| Spouse(s) |
Deborah Howard
(m. 1975) |
| Awards | Britannica Award (1986) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Natural philosophy |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | The evolution of radio galaxies (1967) |
| Doctoral advisor | Martin Ryle |
| Doctoral students |
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Malcolm Sim Longair, born on May 18, 1941, is a famous British physicist. He is known for his work in understanding the universe. From 1991 to 2008, he was a special professor at the University of Cambridge, teaching about natural philosophy. Since 2016, he has been the main editor for a series of books called Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, which are about important scientists.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Malcolm Longair was born in Dundee, Scotland, on May 18, 1941. He went to school at Morgan Academy in Dundee. He studied Electronic Physics at Queen's College, which later became the University of Dundee. At that time, it was part of the University of St Andrews. He finished his first degree in 1963.
After that, he became a research student at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. He joined the Radio Astronomy Group there. In 1967, he earned his PhD, which is a very high university degree. His supervisor, the person who guided his research, was Martin Ryle.
Career and Research Highlights
Early Career and International Work
After finishing his PhD, Malcolm Longair traveled to Russia. From 1968 to 1969, he was a visitor to the Lebedev Physical Institute. This was part of an exchange program with the Royal Society. While there, he worked with other famous scientists like Vitaly Ginzburg and Yakov Zeldovich.
He also held a special fellowship from 1966 to 1968. He was a Fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge for many years. He visited and taught at several top universities around the world. These included the California Institute of Technology and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He also visited the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Leadership Roles and Astronomy
From 1980 to 1990, Malcolm Longair held several important jobs in Scotland. He was the Astronomer Royal for Scotland. This is a very old and respected title. He was also a professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. At the same time, he was the Director of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.
Later, he returned to the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. He was the Deputy Head of the lab from 1991 to 1997. He was in charge of teaching physics. From 1997 to 2005, he became the Head of the entire Cavendish Laboratory. He is still a special Fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge.
Research and Publications
Malcolm Longair's main research focuses on high-energy astrophysics. This is the study of very powerful events in space. He also studies astrophysical cosmology, which is about the origin and future of the universe. He has written many books and articles about his work.
One of his well-known books is Theoretical Concepts in Physics. The second edition of this book was released in 2003. Besides science, he enjoys music, mountain walking, art, architecture, and golf. He completed climbing all the Munros (mountains in Scotland) in 2011. As of 2017, he was the main editor of the Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. He has written about the lives of other scientists, including Vitaly Ginzburg.
He also guided many students who were working on their PhDs. Some of his students became famous astronomers themselves. These include Jim Dunlop and John Peacock.
Awards and Recognition
Malcolm Longair has received many awards for his contributions to science.
- In 1986, he received the first Britannica Award. This award is for sharing knowledge and making life better.
- In 1990, he gave the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These are famous science lectures for young people. His lectures were about 'The Origins of Our Universe'.
- From 1991 to 1992, he was the President of the Physics Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
- In 1994, he won the Science Prize from the Saltire Society.
- He was the Chairman of the Gemini Observatory Board in 1994 and 1995. This project built large telescopes around the world.
- In 1995, he was a Selby Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He gave lectures across Australia.
- He was Chairman of the Space Telescope Science Institute Council in 1995–1996.
- From 1996 to 1998, he was the President of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- In 2000, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a high honor from the Queen.
- In 2004, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very prestigious honor for scientists in the UK.
Personal Life
Malcolm Longair married Deborah Howard in 1975. Deborah is an expert in the history of architecture. They have two children together.
Selected Publications
Books
- Theoretical Concepts in Physics (2nd edition: 1992, ISBN: 0521387736)
- Theoretical Concepts in Physics (revised and enlarged 2nd edition: 2003, ISBN: 0521821266)
Papers
As of 2014, Malcolm Longair had published 298 scientific papers.
