Vernon C. Gibson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vernon Gibson
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|---|---|
| Born |
Vernon Charles Gibson
15 November 1958 Grantham, England
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| Education | The King's School, Grantham |
| Alma mater |
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| Spouse(s) |
Sue Gibson
(m. 1994) |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Synthesis and reactivity studies on high-energy tertiary phosphine transition metal compounds (1983) |
| Doctoral advisor | Malcolm Green |
| Other academic advisors | John E. Bercaw |
Vernon Charles Gibson is a well-known British scientist. He was born on November 15, 1958. He is famous for being the Chief Scientific Adviser for the UK Ministry of Defence. This means he gave important science advice to the government about defence. He held this role from 2012 to 2016 and was asked to come back in May 2023. He also teaches at top universities like Imperial College London and the University of Oxford.
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Early Life and Education
Vernon Gibson grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. He went to The King's School, Grantham. After school, he studied Chemistry at the University of Sheffield. He did very well and earned a top degree in 1980. Later, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree from the University of Oxford in 1983. This is a very high-level degree for scientists.
Career and Scientific Discoveries
After finishing his DPhil, Vernon Gibson moved to the United States. He spent two years working as a research fellow at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). This is a very famous science university.
He has held many important jobs. From 2008 to 2012, he was the Chief Chemist at BP plc, a big energy company. He then became the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Ministry of Defence. This was a very important role where he advised on science for national security.
Before these roles, he was a professor at Imperial College London. There, he became known around the world for his work with metal compounds. He discovered new ways to create special materials called polymers. Polymers are used to make many things, like plastics and rubber.
Awards and Achievements
Vernon Gibson has received many awards for his scientific work. These include the Royal Society of Chemistry Corday-Morgan and Tilden Prizes. These awards recognize top chemists in the UK.
In 2004, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a huge honor for scientists in the UK. It means he is recognized for his important discoveries in chemistry.
In 2010, the University of Sheffield gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree. This was to celebrate his achievements. In 2017, he was also made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. This award was given for his great service to Defence.
Personal Life
Vernon Gibson is married to Sue Gibson, who is also a chemist. They have two grown-up children.
