William Mitchell (physicist) facts for kids

Sir Edgar William John Mitchell (born September 25, 1925, died October 30, 2002) was a brilliant British scientist. He was a physicist, which means he studied how the world works at a very basic level, like energy and matter. He taught physics at important universities like Reading and Oxford. He also helped start a new way of studying materials called neutron scattering. This method uses tiny particles called neutrons to learn about the structure of different materials.

Early Life and Education

Edgar Mitchell was born in Kingsbridge, Devon, England. He went to Sheffield University to study physics. At that time, Sheffield University was a key place for research into radar and defence communications.

In 1946, he started working as a researcher for a company called Metropolitan-Vickers. This led him to work at Bristol University. There, he worked with Nevill Mott, a famous scientist who later won a Nobel Prize. After finishing his PhD, which is a very high university degree, he joined Reading University in 1951.

Career in Physics

Edgar Mitchell quickly became a respected scientist. By 1961, he was made a professor of physics at Reading University. He later took on bigger roles there, becoming the dean of science and then the deputy vice chancellor. These roles meant he helped manage the university's science departments and overall operations.

In 1978, he moved to Oxford University. He became the Dr Lee's Professor of Experimental Philosophy, which is a special title for a leading scientist. He also became the head of the Clarendon laboratory, a famous research center for physics.

Leadership and Public Service

Beyond his scientific research and teaching, Sir Edgar Mitchell was also a very good leader. He held many important positions in public service.

• He became the chairman of the SERC in 1985. This was a challenging time because the British government and universities disagreed about funding.
• From 1989 to 1992, he was the vice-president of the European Science Foundation. This organization helps scientists work together across Europe.
• In 1991, he became the president of CERN. CERN is a huge international research center in Europe where scientists study the smallest particles in the universe.
• He was also a member of the Science & Environmental Policy Project (SEPP) Board of Science Advisors.

In 1996, Sir Edgar Mitchell received the Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize. This award is given to people who have made important contributions to physics.