Anthony French
Encyclopedia
Anthony Philip French is an emeritus professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. He was born in Brighton, England.
French is a graduate of Cambridge University, receiving his B.A. in 1942 and Ph. D. in 1948, both in physics. In 1942, he began working on the British effort to build an atomic bomb (codenamed Tube Alloys
) at the Cavendish Laboratory
. By 1944, Tube Alloys had been merged with the American Manhattan Project
and he was sent to Los Alamos
.
When the War ended, he returned to the UK, where he spent a couple of years at the newly formed Atomic Energy Research Establishment
. He later joined the faculty at Cambridge, where he conducted his research at Cavendish and became a Fellow and Director of Studies in Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge
.
In 1955, French arrived at the University of South Carolina
, where he was made chairman of the physics department. He left South Carolina in 1962 to take a faculty position in the MIT Physics Department
, where he has been ever since.
French's main interest is undergraduate physics education. He was chairman of the Commission on Physics Education of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
(1975-1981) and president of the American Association of Physics Teachers
(1985-1986). He is also a Fellow of the American Physical Society
.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He was born in Brighton, England.
French is a graduate of Cambridge University, receiving his B.A. in 1942 and Ph. D. in 1948, both in physics. In 1942, he began working on the British effort to build an atomic bomb (codenamed Tube Alloys
Tube Alloys
Tube Alloys was the code-name for the British nuclear weapon directorate during World War II, when the development of nuclear weapons was kept at such a high level of secrecy that it had to be referred to by code even in the highest circles of government...
) at the Cavendish Laboratory
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
. By 1944, Tube Alloys had been merged with the American Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
and he was sent to Los Alamos
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
.
When the War ended, he returned to the UK, where he spent a couple of years at the newly formed Atomic Energy Research Establishment
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell, Oxfordshire, was the main centre for atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1990s.-Founding:...
. He later joined the faculty at Cambridge, where he conducted his research at Cavendish and became a Fellow and Director of Studies in Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
.
In 1955, French arrived at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, where he was made chairman of the physics department. He left South Carolina in 1962 to take a faculty position in the MIT Physics Department
MIT Physics Department
The Physics Department at MIT has over 120 faculty members. It offers academic programs leading to the S.B., S.M., Ph.D. and Sc.D. degrees.As of 2006, the department counts four Nobel Prize winners among its faculty: Samuel C.C. Ting , Jerome I. Friedman , Wolfgang Ketterle and Frank Wilczek...
, where he has been ever since.
French's main interest is undergraduate physics education. He was chairman of the Commission on Physics Education of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics is an international non-governmental organization devoted to the advancement of physics...
(1975-1981) and president of the American Association of Physics Teachers
American Association of Physics Teachers
The American Association of Physics Teachers was founded in 1930 for the purpose of "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." There are more than 10,000 members that reside in over 30 countries. AAPT publications include two peer-reviewed journals, the American...
(1985-1986). He is also a Fellow of the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
.
Awards and honors
- 1980 University Medal of the Charles University, Prague
- 1988 Bragg Medal of the Institute of Physics, London
- 1989 Oersted MedalOersted MedalThe Oersted Medal recognizes notable contributions to the teaching of physics. Established in 1936, it is awarded by the American Association of Physics Teachers. The award is named for Hans Christian Ørsted. It is the Association's most prestigious award....
of the American Association of Physics TeachersAmerican Association of Physics TeachersThe American Association of Physics Teachers was founded in 1930 for the purpose of "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." There are more than 10,000 members that reside in over 30 countries. AAPT publications include two peer-reviewed journals, the American... - 1991 Named Professor Emeritus at MIT
- 1993 Melba Newell Phillips Award of the American Association of Physics TeachersAmerican Association of Physics TeachersThe American Association of Physics Teachers was founded in 1930 for the purpose of "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." There are more than 10,000 members that reside in over 30 countries. AAPT publications include two peer-reviewed journals, the American...