Philip Withers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Withers
FRS FREng
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Withers in 2016
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| Born | May 1963 (age 62) |
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| Scientific career | |
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| Thesis | The development of the Eshelby model and its application to metal matrix composites (1988) |
Philip John Withers (born in May 1963) is a leading professor at the University of Manchester. He is known as the Regius Professor of Materials. He also works as the Chief Scientist at the Henry Royce Institute. This institute focuses on advanced materials research.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Philip Withers studied at the University of Cambridge. In 1985, he earned his first degree in Natural Sciences, focusing on Physics. Later, in 1988, he completed his PhD. His advanced degree was in metallurgy, which is the study of metals. He specialized in Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). These are special materials made from combining metals with other strong materials.
Career and Research Focus
After finishing his PhD, Professor Withers became a lecturer at Cambridge. In 1998, he moved to the University of Manchester to become a professor. His work involves using special methods to study how materials behave. He looks at both man-made and natural materials. He studies them in real-time and in 3D. This helps scientists understand how materials change and react.
Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility
In 2008, Professor Withers helped create the Henry Moseley Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility (MXIF). This facility has many advanced 3D X-ray machines. These machines allow scientists to see inside materials without cutting them. It's like getting an X-ray of a bone, but for different materials.
International Centre for Advanced Materials
In 2012, Professor Withers became the first Director of the BP International Centre for Advanced Materials (ICAM). This center works to understand and create new materials for the energy industry. ICAM is a team effort. It includes BP, the University of Manchester, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
Published Works and Funding
Professor Withers co-wrote a textbook called An Introduction to Metal Matrix Composites. He wrote it with Bill Clyne. His research has received money from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This council helps fund important science and engineering projects.
Awards and Special Honours
Professor Withers has received several important awards for his work. In 2005, he became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). This is a high honor for engineers. In 2016, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). The Royal Society is one of the oldest and most respected scientific organizations.
In 2014, the University of Manchester won the Queen's Anniversary Prize. This award recognized Professor Withers' important work at the Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility. It showed how his research helps the country.
