John Meurig Thomas – författare

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 inarguably 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 fromthe 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.

The Royal Institution of Great Britain is renowned the world over, first, because it is a premier arena for the advancement of new scientific and technological knowledge; and second because it highlights the advance of knowledge of all kinds. It bridges the sciences and the humanities, and as much publicity is given to advances in the arts, archaeology, architecture, drama and literature as to the pure and applied sciences. More famous scientists have lived and worked in the Royal Institution than in any other laboratory in the world. A roll-call includes Rumford, Davy, Faraday, Tyndall, Dewar, Rayleigh, W. H. Bragg, W. L. Bragg and George Porter. Not is it only the home of continuous electricity, it is also the birthplace of many aspects of molecular biology and viruses and enzymology. Some fifteen scientists who have won the Nobel Prize have, at one time or another, worked or lectured at the RI. And eminent individuals, like Howard Carter and Coleridge, have lectured there.Albemarle Street - Portraits, Personalities and Presentations at The Royal institution is a lively and compelling personal selection of the remarkable personalities and achievements of some of the extraordinary scientists and individuals who, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, worked or lectured at 21 Albemarle Street in Mayfair, central London. John Meurig Thomas offers a unique and valuable insight into the history of this prestigious address, having himself lived and worked at the Royal Institution for some twenty years.

The Royal Institution of Great Britain is renowned the world over, first, because it is a premier arena for the advancement of new scientific and technological knowledge; and second because it highlights the advance of knowledge of all kinds. It bridges the sciences and the humanities, and as much publicity is given to advances in the arts, archaeology, architecture, drama and literature as to the pure and applied sciences. More famous scientists have lived and worked in the Royal Institution than in any other laboratory in the world. A roll-call includes Rumford, Davy, Faraday, Tyndall, Dewar, Rayleigh, W. H. Bragg, W. L. Bragg and George Porter. Not is it only the home of continuous electricity, it is also the birthplace of many aspects of molecular biology and viruses and enzymology. Some fifteen scientists who have won the Nobel Prize have, at one time or another, worked or lectured at the RI. And eminent individuals, like Howard Carter and Coleridge, have lectured there.Albemarle Street - Portraits, Personalities and Presentations at The Royal institution is a lively and compelling personal selection of the remarkable personalities and achievements of some of the extraordinary scientists and individuals who, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, worked or lectured at 21 Albemarle Street in Mayfair, central London. John Meurig Thomas offers a unique and valuable insight into the history of this prestigious address, having himself lived and worked at the Royal Institution for some twenty years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Catalysis occupies a pivotal position in the physical and biological sciences. As well as being the mainstay of the chemical industry, it is the means of effecting many laboratory syntheses and the root cause of all enzymatic processes. This book is an eminently readable introduction to the fundamental principles of heterogeneous catalysis. Written by world-renowned experts, it explains the vocabulary, grammar and literature of catalysis from the laboratory-oriented model study through to the operating plant. Didactically skillful and using many lucidly designed figures, the authors present an insightful exposition of all important concepts, new developments and techniques in this rapidly advancing field.

This long-awaited second edition of the successful introduction to the fundamentals of heterogeneous catalysis is now completely revised and updated. Written by internationally acclaimed experts, this textbook includes fundamentals of adsorption, characterizing catalysts and their surfaces, the significance of pore structure and surface area, solid-state and surface chemistry, poisoning, promotion, deactivation and selectivity of catalysts, as well as catalytic process engineering. A final section provides a number of examples and case histories.With its color and numerous graphics plus references to help readers to easily find further reading, this is a pivotal work for an understanding of the principles involved.

This long-awaited second edition of the successful introduction to the fundamentals of heterogeneous catalysis is now completely revised and updated. Written by internationally acclaimed experts, this textbook includes fundamentals of adsorption, characterizing catalysts and their surfaces, the significance of pore structure and surface area, solid-state and surface chemistry, poisoning, promotion, deactivation and selectivity of catalysts, as well as catalytic process engineering. A final section provides a number of examples and case histories. With its color and numerous graphics plus references to help readers to easily find further reading, this is a pivotal work for an understanding of the principles involved.