Peter E. Hodgson
Encyclopedia
Peter E. Hodgson was a British
physicist
, who also wrote about the philosophy of physics
and social issues, and was an active Roman Catholic.
Hodgson graduated in 1948 with a B.Sc in physics
from Imperial College London
. He then began experimental research under George Paget Thomson
, and was one of the first to identify the K meson and its decay into three pion
s, giving the most accurate, as of that time, estimate of its mass. In 1951, he was awarded the PhD for this work. In the 1960s, the University of London awarded him the D.Sc.
He then did nuclear physics
under Harrie Massey
at University College London
, studying the scattering of neutron
s by alpha particle
s. This drew the attention of Rudolph Peierls and Denys Wilkinson
, who invited him to Oxford on 1958. There he became the head of the Nuclear Physics Theoretical Group, and until his retirement, a lecturer in Nuclear Physics and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College
.
Hodgson was actively involved in the study of the impact of science on society, and of the resulting moral obligations of scientists. He was an active member of the Atomic Scientists' Association, serving on its Council from 1952 to 1959 and editing its journal from 1953 to 1955.
He worked closely with the Templeton Foundation, the Newman Society, and other organizations to promote the integration of science and religion. In later years, he became the president of the science secretariat of Pax Romana
, whose bulletin he edited and to which he contributed several articles and book reviews. He also became a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Culture
(founded 1982). He encouraged Roman Catholic scientists, lay as well as ordained, to integrate their studies and belief, and to publicize their work. He emphasized the need for the Church to be thorough and professional about any scientific advice it took and scientific comment it made.
Technical:
Other:
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...
, who also wrote about the philosophy of physics
Philosophy of physics
In philosophy, the philosophy of physics studies the fundamental philosophical questions underlying modern physics, the study of matter and energy and how they interact. The philosophy of physics begins by reflecting on the basic metaphysical and epistemological questions posed by physics:...
and social issues, and was an active Roman Catholic.
Hodgson graduated in 1948 with a B.Sc in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
. He then began experimental research under George Paget Thomson
George Paget Thomson
Sir George Paget Thomson, FRS was an English physicist and Nobel laureate in physics recognised for his discovery with Clinton Davisson of the wave properties of the electron by electron diffraction.-Biography:...
, and was one of the first to identify the K meson and its decay into three pion
Pion
In particle physics, a pion is any of three subatomic particles: , , and . Pions are the lightest mesons and they play an important role in explaining the low-energy properties of the strong nuclear force....
s, giving the most accurate, as of that time, estimate of its mass. In 1951, he was awarded the PhD for this work. In the 1960s, the University of London awarded him the D.Sc.
He then did nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
under Harrie Massey
Harrie Massey
Sir Harrie Stewart Wilson Massey FRS was an influential Australian mathematical physicist. He worked primarily in the fields of atomic and atmospheric physics.- Life and career :...
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, studying the scattering of neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
s by alpha particle
Alpha particle
Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus, which is classically produced in the process of alpha decay, but may be produced also in other ways and given the same name...
s. This drew the attention of Rudolph Peierls and Denys Wilkinson
Denys Wilkinson
Sir Denys Haigh Wilkinson FRS is a British nuclear physicist. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He holds the higher degree of ScD, an HonFilDr degree and an HonLLD degree...
, who invited him to Oxford on 1958. There he became the head of the Nuclear Physics Theoretical Group, and until his retirement, a lecturer in Nuclear Physics and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College can refer to the following colleges:*Corpus Christi College, Cambridge*Corpus Christi College, Oxford*Corpus Christi College *Corpus Christi College, Melbourne...
.
Hodgson was actively involved in the study of the impact of science on society, and of the resulting moral obligations of scientists. He was an active member of the Atomic Scientists' Association, serving on its Council from 1952 to 1959 and editing its journal from 1953 to 1955.
He worked closely with the Templeton Foundation, the Newman Society, and other organizations to promote the integration of science and religion. In later years, he became the president of the science secretariat of Pax Romana
Pax Romana (organization)
Pax Romana - the international federation of Catholic intellectuals, one of the oldest international lay Catholic movements. It was created in two stages: in 1921 IMCS/ and 1947 as a response of Catholic university lecturers and students to the need to build a peaceful world after experience of...
, whose bulletin he edited and to which he contributed several articles and book reviews. He also became a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Culture
Pontifical Council for Culture
The Pontifical Council for Culture is a department of the Roman Curia charged with fostering the relationship of the Catholic Church with different cultures. Pope John Paul II founded it on 20 May 1982...
(founded 1982). He encouraged Roman Catholic scientists, lay as well as ordained, to integrate their studies and belief, and to publicize their work. He emphasized the need for the Church to be thorough and professional about any scientific advice it took and scientific comment it made.
Books by Hodgson
OUP = Oxford University Press.Technical:
- 1963, "The Optical Model of Elastic Scattering". OUP. Reprinted in Hodgson (1994).
- 1971. Nuclear Reactions and Nuclear Structure. OUP.
- 1978. Nuclear Heavy-Ion Reactions. OUP.
- 1980-81. Growth Points in Nuclear Physics, Vols. 1-3. Pergamon Press.
- 1985 (with J. R. LucasJohn Lucas (philosopher)- Overview :John Lucas was educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied first mathematics, then Greats , obtaining first class honors, and proceeding to an MA in Philosophy in 1954. He spent the 1957-58 academic year at Princeton University, deepening his...
). Space, Time and Causality. ISBN 0-19-875057-9. - 1988 (with A N Antonov & I Zh. Petkov). Nucleon Momentum and Density Distributions in Nuclei. OUP.
- 1990 (with J. R. LucasJohn Lucas (philosopher)- Overview :John Lucas was educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied first mathematics, then Greats , obtaining first class honors, and proceeding to an MA in Philosophy in 1954. He spent the 1957-58 academic year at Princeton University, deepening his...
). Spacetime and Electromagnetism. OUP. ISBN 0-19-852038-7. - 1991 (With E. Gadioli)). Pre-Equilibrium Nuclear Reactions. OUP.
- 1993 (with A N Antonov & I Zh. Petkov). Nucleon Corelations in Nuclei. Springer-Verlag
- 1994. The Nucleon Optical Potential. World Scientific. ISBN 9810217226.
- 1996 (with E. Gadioli & E. Gadioli-Erba). Introductory Nuclear Physics. OUP.
- 1997 (with S A Sofianos). Nuclear Physics. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
Other:
- 1961. Nuclear Physics in Peace and War. London: Burns & Oates.
- 1983. Our Nuclear Future. Belfast: Christian Journals Ltd.
- 1990. Christianity and Science, Studies in Christianity & Science. OUP. ISBN 0198321430.
- 1994. (with Thomas A. Brody and Luis De La Peña) The Philosophy behind Physics, 2nd ed. Springer. ISBN 0387579524.
- 1997. Energy and Environment. Bowerdean. ISBN 0906097746.
- 1999. Nuclear Power, Energy and the Environment. London: Imperial College Press. ISBN 1860940889.
- 1999. Science, Technology, and Society. Tokyo: Kinseido.
- 2002. Christianity and Science. Johannesburg SA: St. Augustine College.
- 2003. The Roots of Science and Its Fruits. London: The Saint Austin Press.
- 2005. Science and Belief in the Nuclear Age. Sapientia Press of Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria UniversityAve Maria University or AMU is a private Catholic university in southwest Florida, United States, founded in 2003. The university moved to its permanent campus, situated in the planned town of Ave Maria, east of Naples, Florida, in August 2007...
. ISBN 1932589201. - 2006. Theology And Modern Physics, Ashgate Science and Religion Series. London: Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 0754636224.
- 2010. Energy, the Environment, and Climate Change. Imperial College Press. ISBN 1848164157.