William Bradshaw Amos facts for kids

William Bradshaw Amos, born in 1945, is a British biologist. He is an Emeritus Scientist at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). This means he is a highly respected scientist who has retired but still helps out. Dr. Amos is well-known for leading a team that created the mesolens. This special microscope has a very large lens.

Early Life and Education

William Bradshaw Amos went to King Edward VII School, Sheffield when he was younger. He then continued his studies at university. In 1966, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oxford. Later, in 1970, he completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge. A PhD is a very high university degree.

Career in Science

Dr. Amos started his career in science in 1966. He worked as a research assistant and then a research student. From 1970 to 1974, he was a research fellow at King's College, Cambridge. A research fellow is a scientist who does research. He also taught at the zoology department at Cambridge. He taught there from 1973 to 1978.

Developing the Mesolens

One of Dr. Amos's most important contributions is the mesolens. He led a team that developed this special microscope. The mesolens is unique because it has a giant lens. This allows scientists to see very large areas of a sample. At the same time, it keeps a high level of detail. This is very helpful for studying biological samples. It helps scientists understand how living things work.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Amos has received many awards for his work. These awards show how important his contributions are to science.

• 1994 Mullard Award from the Royal Society
• 1995 Rank Prize for Optoelectronics
• 2002 Progress Medal from the Royal Photographic Society
• 2002 Ernst Abbe Award for Lifetime Achievement from the New York Microscopical Society