Charles Taylor (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Charles Alfred Taylor was a British
physicist
well known for his work in crystallography
and his efforts to promote science
to young audiences.
Charles Taylor was born in Hull
in 1922. He began his degree
in Queen Mary's College at the University of London
, but the college was subsequently evacuated to Cambridge
during the remainder of World War II
. He graduated in 1943, and then worked for the Admiralty
designing radar
countermeasures, work that eventually took him to Harvard University in the USA until the end of the war. He then studied for a PhD
at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, and was there from 1948 until 1965. He worked as a lecturer and then a reader after completing his PhD. He worked for a long time with Henry Lipson
on the development of optical diffraction analogue methods. He was awarded a DSc
in 1960.
In 1965 he moved with his family to Cardiff
to take up the position of Chair of Physics at University College Cardiff
, where the main interest of the department was X-ray crystallography
, in the same field as the work he did with Lipson in Manchester
.
As well as his work in research, Taylor also had very close links to the Royal Institution
. He had always had a strong interest in music
and its relationship with physics. In 1971 he lectured to schoolchildren for the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
on the subject of physics and music. In 1989 he became only the third person since 1945 to deliver a second series of Christmas lectures, with the title 'Exploring Music'. As well as these, he was appointed to the post of Visiting Professor of Experimental Physics at the Royal Institution, a post he held until 1988. He also gave many other lectures to schoolchildren. In 1990 he lectured to thousands of children in Tokyo
as a follow up to his Christmas Lectures in London
the previous year.
Taylor was the author of a number of books, including 'The Art and Science of Lecture Demonstration'. Most notably, with Stephen Pople, he wrote the worldwide selling 'Oxford Children's Book of Science' (1994).
In 1986 he was unanimously awarded the first ever Michael Faraday Award by the Royal Society
for communicating science to public audiences. Altogether he gave over 150 lectures to schoolchildren at the Royal Institution, as well as presenting 8 Friday evening discourses there.
Taylor married in 1944 and had 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren at the time of his death, in 2002 at the age of 79.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
well known for his work in crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
and his efforts to promote science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
to young audiences.
Charles Taylor was born in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
in 1922. He began his degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in Queen Mary's College at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, but the college was subsequently evacuated to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
during the remainder of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He graduated in 1943, and then worked for the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
designing radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
countermeasures, work that eventually took him to Harvard University in the USA until the end of the war. He then studied for a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, and was there from 1948 until 1965. He worked as a lecturer and then a reader after completing his PhD. He worked for a long time with Henry Lipson
Henry Lipson
Henry Lipson CBE was a British physicist. He was Professor of Physics, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, 1954-77, then Professor Emeritus....
on the development of optical diffraction analogue methods. He was awarded a DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
in 1960.
In 1965 he moved with his family to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
to take up the position of Chair of Physics at University College Cardiff
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, where the main interest of the department was X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography is a method of determining the arrangement of atoms within a crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a crystal and causes the beam of light to spread into many specific directions. From the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a...
, in the same field as the work he did with Lipson in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
As well as his work in research, Taylor also had very close links to the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
. He had always had a strong interest in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and its relationship with physics. In 1971 he lectured to schoolchildren for the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are a series of lectures on a single topic, which have been held at the Royal Institution in London each year since 1825. The lectures present scientific subjects to a general audience, including young people, in an informative and entertaining manner....
on the subject of physics and music. In 1989 he became only the third person since 1945 to deliver a second series of Christmas lectures, with the title 'Exploring Music'. As well as these, he was appointed to the post of Visiting Professor of Experimental Physics at the Royal Institution, a post he held until 1988. He also gave many other lectures to schoolchildren. In 1990 he lectured to thousands of children in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
as a follow up to his Christmas Lectures in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
the previous year.
Taylor was the author of a number of books, including 'The Art and Science of Lecture Demonstration'. Most notably, with Stephen Pople, he wrote the worldwide selling 'Oxford Children's Book of Science' (1994).
In 1986 he was unanimously awarded the first ever Michael Faraday Award by the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
for communicating science to public audiences. Altogether he gave over 150 lectures to schoolchildren at the Royal Institution, as well as presenting 8 Friday evening discourses there.
Taylor married in 1944 and had 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren at the time of his death, in 2002 at the age of 79.