Contents
George Porter
Using flash photolysis to study fleeting chemical reactions.
Flash photolysis · Chemistry for the Modern World
- Born
- 6 December 1920
- Birthplace
- Stainforth
- Died
- 31 August 2002
More people
George Porter
British chemist whose methods made short-lived reaction intermediates observable. Shared the 1967 chemistry Nobel Prize.
Early life
Yorkshire and Cambridge
Studied chemistry at Leeds, served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and completed a Cambridge doctorate with Ronald Norrish in 1949.
Career
- 1953–1954
Industrial research
Worked at the British Rayon Research Association.
- 1954–1965
Sheffield
Held a chemistry professorship.
- 1966
Royal Institution
Became director and Fullerian Professor of Chemistry.
- 1967
Nobel Prize
Shared the award with Norrish and Manfred Eigen.
Contributions
Flash photolysis
Used brief light pulses to create and study transient molecules.
Chemistry for the Modern World
Published a book about chemistry.
Beyond work
Public science
Championed public understanding of science, helped establish COPUS and gave major public lectures. Married Stella Jean Brooke in 1949.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.