Robert Young (materials scientist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Young
FRS FREng FInstP
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|---|---|
| Born |
Robert Joseph Young
29 May 1948 |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (MA, PhD) |
| Awards | Leslie Holliday Prize (2011) Swinburne Medal (2012) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields |
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| Institutions | National Graphene Institute University of Manchester University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology |
| Thesis | Deformation mechanism in crystalline polymers (1972) |
Robert Joseph Young was born on May 29, 1948. He is a British scientist who studies materials. He specializes in polymers (which are like plastics) and composites. Composites are materials made by combining two or more different materials. He is a professor at the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.
Contents
Education and Early Life
Robert Young went to St John's College, Cambridge. There, he earned his Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. These are advanced university degrees.
Amazing Research and Career
Professor Young has written over 330 research papers. These papers have been used as references by other scientists more than 37,000 times. This shows how important his work is in the science world.
Understanding Materials
He is well-known for his research on how the structure of materials affects their strength. He studies how polymers and composites behave when they are stretched or bent. A big part of his work looks at how materials like carbon fibres and even spider silk change at a tiny, molecular level.
He has also studied carbon-fibre composites. These are very strong materials used in things like airplanes and sports equipment. He also researches carbon nanotubes and how graphene changes shape. Graphene is an amazing material that is only one atom thick.
New Ways to Study Materials
In his research, Professor Young found a new way to use a method called Raman spectroscopy. This method uses laser light to study materials. When laser light shines on a material, some of the light scatters. Scientists measure this scattered light.
The changes in the light tell them about the bonds between atoms in the material. This helps them understand how the material's structure changes when it is stretched or bent. He showed that this method can even be used to study tiny carbon nanotubes and graphene.
Important Textbook
Professor Young also helped write a popular textbook. It is called Introduction to Polymers. This book helps students learn about polymers.
Awards and Special Honours
Professor Young has received many important awards for his work. In 2011, he won the Leslie Holliday Prize. In 2012, he received the Swinburne Medal. Both of these awards came from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He also gave the Swinburne Lecture in 2013.
In 2013, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honour for scientists in the United Kingdom. His election certificate said that he is one of the world's top scientists. It also mentioned that his research has changed how we understand polymers and composites. He found new ways to make materials stronger. He also showed how Raman spectroscopy can be used to study materials at a very small level.
