Richard Dixon (chemist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Dixon
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| Born | 25 December 1930 |
| Died | 25 May 2021 |
| Occupation | Chemist |
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Richard Newland Dixon (born December 25, 1930 – died May 25, 2021) was a famous British chemist. He was known for his important work on how heat and light affect different materials.
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Who Was Richard Dixon?
Richard Dixon was a brilliant scientist who studied chemistry. He spent his life learning about the tiny particles that make up everything around us. His research helped us understand how light and heat interact with different substances. This field of study is called "thermal or optical properties of matter."
Early Life and Education
Richard Dixon was born in a town called Borough Green in Kent, England. His parents were Robert T and Lilian Dixon.
He went to school at The Judd School. After that, he continued his studies at King's College London, where he earned his first degree in 1951. He then went to St Catharine's College, Cambridge to get his PhD, which he finished in 1955. In 1954, he married Alison Birks.
A Career in Chemistry
Richard Dixon spent most of his career at the University of Bristol. He started working there in 1969. At Bristol, he became a professor and led the Theoretical Chemistry department. This meant he guided research into the basic rules that explain how chemicals behave.
He also worked at the University of Sheffield during his career.
Important Discoveries and Awards
Richard Dixon's work was highly respected by other scientists. In 1986, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very special honor for top scientists in the United Kingdom.
Later, in 2004, he received the Rumford Medal. This award is given by the Royal Society for outstanding discoveries in the fields of heat and light. These awards show how much his contributions helped advance our understanding of chemistry.
