Whats of a Scientific Life

John R. Helliwell is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Manchester. He was Director of Synchrotron Radiation Science at the Council for the Central Laboratories of the Research Councils (CCLRC). Professor Helliwell has served as President of the European Crystallographic Association (ECA). He was awarded a DSc degree in physics from the University of York in 1996 and a DPhil in molecular biophysics from the University of Oxford in 1978. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Society of Biology, and the American Crystallographic Association. He is an Emeritus Member of the Biochemical Society. In 1997, he was made an Honorary Member of the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia. In 2000 he was awarded the Professor K Banerjee Centennial Silver Medal by the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Calcutta, India. In 2015 he was elected a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona, Spain. He was made an Honorary Member of the British Biophysical Society in 2017. The same year, he became a Faculty 1000 Member, charged with highlighting significant science publications. He was elected an Honorary Life Member of the British Crystallographic Association in 2019. He was a Lonsdale Lecturer of the British Crystallographic Association in 2011, the Patterson Prize Awardee of the American Crystallographic Association in 2014, and the Max Perutz Prize Awardee of the European Crystallographic Association in 2015. Professor Helliwell has published more than 200 research publications and two research monographs. He has held leading roles within the International Union of Crystallography, most recently as Chairman of its Committee on Data and Chairman of its Book Series. He has chaired various science advisory committees at synchrotron X-ray and neutron facilities around the world including in France, Spain, Japan, the USA, Australia and Sweden.

“A lot of thought about what science is, and experience about what the scientific life involves, has gone into this book by John Helliwell. In fact John has become a figure head for his work in physics and chemistry and also delving into biology. His book is within the Global Science Education Book Series and which, close to my heart, is the important science education role that the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum in Widnes has and where I am the Chair of Trustees of the Charitable Trust that manages it. I warmly welcome this new book, not least in which John highlights enzyme catalysis and the International Year of the Periodic Table 2019, it even includes a photograph of Mendeleev’s visit to Manchester.”- Dr Diana Leitch MBE, FRSC, Deputy University Librarian, University of Manchester, and Chair of Trustees of the Catalyst SDC and Museum, Widnes, UK

• Part I Introduction1 What Is the Scientific Life?2 What Is Physics?3 What Is Chemistry?4 What Is Biology?Part II Scientific Career Choices: What to Do When Faced With …5 Junctions6 Crossroads7 Roundabouts8 Traffic Lights9 Obstacles10 MountainsPart III Examples of What Science Delivers or Will Deliver in the Future11 With Physics We Can See Atoms12 Acceleration of Chemical Reactions by Catalysts: A Wonder of the Natural World 13 Understanding Colour: Paintings, Camouflage, Clothes and Cosmetics14 The Universe Exists and the Big Bang ‘Start’ of the Universe: The ‘Red Shift’ and the Expansion of the Universe15 Is There Life Elsewhere in the Universe? The Role of the Square Kilometre Array Radio Astronomy Project16 Predicting Climate Change on EarthPart IV Science and Mathematics: Across the Disciplines and Side by Side With Engineering17 Science and Mathematics: Newtonian Dynamics and Molecular Dynamics18 Science across the Disciplines: Curiosity Respects No Science Subject Boundaries19 Science Side by Side with EngineeringPart V Science Is a Process20 Successes Involve Striving to Avoid Failures in SciencePart VI A Trend: The Coming Together of the Sciences and the Social Sciences21 The International Council for Science: A Very Important EventAppendices My Reviews of Books Regarding the Whats of a Scientific LifeAppendix A1: The Social Function of Science, by J. D. BernalAppendix A2: The Effective Scientist: A Handy Guide to a Successful Scientific Career, by Corey J. A. BradshawAppendix A3: Scientific Leadership, by J. W. (Hans) Niemantsverdriet and Jan-Karel Felderhof Appendix A4: Managing Science: Developing Your Research, Leadership and Management Skills, by K. PeachAppendix A5: Writing Chemistry Patents and Intellectual Property: a Practical Guide, by Francis J. WallerAppendix A6: The Scientific Method: Reflections from a Practitioner, by M. di Ventra