John Meurig Thomas is a former Director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, a former head of the Department of Physical Chemistry and former Master of Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. A world-renowned solid-state, materials and surface chemist, he has been an educator, researcher, academic administrator, author of university texts, government advisor, industrial consultant and trustee of national museums in a career spanning over 50 years. Recipient of many international awards, including the Linus Pauling, Willard–Gibbs, Kapitza, Natta, Stokes, Davy and Faraday medals, he is also a fellow of the Royal Society (1977), of the American Philosophical Society (1993) and of ten other national academies. He is best known for his fundamental work in heterogeneous catalysis, chemical electron microscopy and in the popularisation of science, for which, in conjunction with his services to chemistry, he was knighted (1991). He is also founding editor of three scientific journals and editor or co-editor of some 30 monographs. A new mineral, meurigite, was named in his honour (1995). Most recently in 2016, Sir John was awarded the Royal Medal for Physical Sciences by the Royal Society. Drawn from over 1200 publications, this volume contains a summarised account of Sir John's work, with a selection of the new techniques pioneered and discovered by him and his colleagues. Also included are popular science articles, and various illustrations of techniques which have enhanced our knowledge of many facets of condensed matter science. Contributions from 80 peers, colleagues, former co-workers, students and friends worldwide who have interacted with or been influenced by him are a tribute to the professional and personal life of Sir John, making this book a unique reflective summary of the work of one of the greatest achievers in modern British physical science.

Solid State Chemistry today is a frontier area of mainstream chemistry, and plays a vital role in the development of materials. The present work, consisting of a selection of Prof. C N R Rao's papers, covers most of the important aspects of solid state chemistry and provides the flavor of the subject, showing how the subject has evolved over the years. The book is up-to-date, and will be useful to students, teachers, beginning researchers and practitioners in solid state chemistry as well as in the broader area of materials science.

The publication presents a selection of the remarkable personalities who have worked at The Royal Institution in London. Many of them revolutionized various facets of science and technology, others were renowned for their general cultural contributions to the arts, literature, drama, anthropology, medicine, music, poetry, politics and religion.

Architects of Structural Biology is an amalgam of memoirs, biography, and intellectual history of the personalities and single-minded devotion of four scientists who are among the greatest in modern times. These three chemists and one physicist, all Nobel laureates, played a pivotal role in the creation of a new and pervasive branch of biology. This led in turn to major developments in medicine and to the treatment of diseases as a result of advances made in arguably one of the greatest centres of scientific research ever: the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, which they helped to establish. Their work and that of their predecessors at the Royal Institution in London reflects the broader cultural, scientific and educational strength of the UK from the early 19th century onwards. The book also illustrates the nurturing of academic life in the collegiate system, exemplified by the activities of, and cross-fertilization within, a small Cambridge college.

A compilation of wonderful tributes to the late Ahmed Zewail (1946-2016), considered the 'Father of Femtochemistry', a long-standing icon in the field of physical chemistry, and the father of ultrafast electron-based methods. The book contains testimonies by friends and relatives of Zewail and by outstanding scientists from around the world who worked or have been affiliated with the Nobel prizewinning professor. Each contribution describes the author's own unique experience and personal relationship with Zewail, and includes details of his scientific achievements and the stories around them. Personal and Scientific Reminiscences collects accounts from the most important individuals in the physical and chemical sciences to give us a unique insight into the world and work of one of the great scientists of our time.

“With [The Universe Within’s] deeply thoughtful reflections on the place of science in society, on the need to educate the underserved, and on plenty of other topics rarely addressed in this sort of book, Turok takes you where no physicist has gone before. It’s well worth making the journey with him.” — TIME Magazine Winner of the Lane Anderson Award, longlisted for the Charles Taylor Prize, shortlisted for the Libris Award for Non-Fiction and selected as an Amazon.ca Best Book The most anticipated nonfiction book of the season, this year's Massey Lectures is a visionary look at the way the human mind can shape the future by world-renowned physicist Neil Turok. Every technology we rely on today was created by the human mind, seeking to understand the universe around us. Scientific knowledge is our most precious possession, and our future will be shaped by the breakthroughs to come. In this personal, visionary, and fascinating work, Neil Turok, Director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, explores the transformative scientific discoveries of the past three centuries -- from classical mechanics, to the nature of light, to the bizarre world of the quantum, and the evolution of the cosmos. Each new discovery has, over time, yielded new technologies causing paradigm shifts in the organization of society. Now, he argues, we are on the cusp of another major transformation: the coming quantum revolution that will supplant our current, dissatisfying digital age. Facing this brave new world, Turok calls for creatively re-inventing the way advanced knowledge is developed and shared, and opening access to the vast, untapped pools of intellectual talent in the developing world. Scientific research, training, and outreach are vital to our future economy, as well as powerful forces for peaceful global progress. Elegantly written, deeply provocative, and highly inspirational, The Universe Within is, above all, about the future -- of science, of society, of ourselves.

This text celebrates, in four volumes, the bicentenary of the "Philosophical Magazine" and chronicles the history of scientific development as chonicled in its pages. Each volume previews a 50 year period and contains not only classical works but also papers of an amusing controversial nature. Commentaries preceding each part set the papers in the context of the time: Volume One 1798-1850 reproduces, in their orignal form, many celebrated papers of Davy, Faraday and Joule, as well as many papers on the nature of light and matter. Forewards by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Nevill Mott and Professor John Meurig Thomas, in addition to a preface and introduction, trace the development of the "Philosophical Magazine" and provide an overview of scientific thought and achievements during the first half of the 19th century.

The scientific exploration of solid materials represents one of the most important, fascinating and rewarding areas of scientific endeavour in the present day, not only from the viewpoint of advancing fundamental understanding but also from the industrial perspective, given the immense diversity of applications of solid materials across the full range of commercial sectors. Turning Points in Solid-State, Materials and Surface Science provides a state-of-the-art survey of some of the most important recent developments across the spectrum of solid-state, materials and surface sciences, while at the same time reflecting on key turning points in the evolution of this scientific discipline and projecting into the directions for future research progress. The book serves as a timely tribute to the life and work of Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas FRS, who has made monumental contributions to this field of science throughout his distinguished 50-year career in research, during which he has initiated, developed and exploited many important branches of this field. Indeed, the depth and breadth of his contributions towards the evolution and advancement of this scientific discipline, and his critical role in elevating this field to the important position that it now occupies within modern science, are demonstrated recurrently throughout the chapters of this book. Individual chapters are contributed by internationally leading experts in their respective fields, and the topics covered include solid-state chemistry of inorganic and organic materials, heterogeneous catalysis, surface science and materials science, with one section of the book focusing on modern developments in electron microscopy and its contributions to chemistry and materials science. The book serves as a modern and up-to-date monograph in these fields, and provides a valuable resource to researchers in academia and industry who require a comprehensive source of information on this important and rapidly developing subject.

The scientific exploration of solid materials represents one of the most important, fascinating and rewarding areas of scientific endeavour in the present day, not only from the viewpoint of advancing fundamental understanding but also from the industrial perspective, given the immense diversity of applications of solid materials across the full range of commercial sectors. Turning Points in Solid-State, Materials and Surface Science provides a state-of-the-art survey of some of the most important recent developments across the spectrum of solid-state, materials and surface sciences, while at the same time reflecting on key turning points in the evolution of this scientific discipline and projecting into the directions for future research progress. The book serves as a timely tribute to the life and work of Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas FRS, who has made monumental contributions to this field of science throughout his distinguished 50-year career in research, during which he has initiated, developed and exploited many important branches of this field. Indeed, the depth and breadth of his contributions towards the evolution and advancement of this scientific discipline, and his critical role in elevating this field to the important position that it now occupies within modern science, are demonstrated recurrently throughout the chapters of this book. Individual chapters are contributed by internationally leading experts in their respective fields, and the topics covered include solid-state chemistry of inorganic and organic materials, heterogeneous catalysis, surface science and materials science, with one section of the book focusing on modern developments in electron microscopy and its contributions to chemistry and materials science. The book serves as a modern and up-to-date monograph in these fields, and provides a valuable resource to researchers in academia and industry who require a comprehensive source of information on this important and rapidly developing subject.

This book relates to one of Wales's most important institutions of higher education, covering its history from its creation in 1884 as the University College of North Wales, its incarnation as the University of Wales, Bangor and to its 125th anniversary in 2009. The book traces the institution's origins as an 18th century coaching inn with just 58 students to its current status as an institution enjoying multi-million pound investment in staff and buildings in the twenty-first century. The story is one of heroic struggle, personal endeavour, financial crises, political unrest, academic distinction and student devotion. This account traces the growth and development of the institution, focusing on the personalities who shaped its direction and the changing nature of student life on the campus. The underlying theme of the book is academic progress, placed within the context of Welsh political, social and economic development during the last century, and also covers the first few years of the twenty-first.