Jump to content

Ken Pounds: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Unlinking full-dates. Details here. Codes: BRreg(×1)
Importing Wikidata short description: "British physicist"
 
(24 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British physicist}}
⚫
'''Kenneth Alwyne Pounds''', [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|FRS]] (born 17 November 1934) is [[Emeritus Professor]] of [[physics]] at the [[University of Leicester]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2018}}
⚫
'''Kenneth Alwyne Pounds''', [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|FRS]] (born 17 November 1934) is [[Emeritus Professor]] of [[physics]] at the [[University of Leicester]].


==Early life==
⚫
He was born in [[Bradford]], [[Yorkshire]], then attended [[University College London]] where he gained his [[BSc]] and [[PhD]]. He then moved to Leicester as Assistant Lecturer in 1960. He became Deputy Director of Space Research in 1967, and was one of the pioneers of using [[rocket]]s and [[satellite]]s for research in the UK. He became first Director of the [[X-ray Astronomy]] group in 1974. His research is in the area of [[active galaxies]], and one of his many discoveries is that [[black holes]] are common in the [[universe]].
He was born in [[Bradford]], [[Yorkshire]], where he went to Salt Grammar School (now [[Titus Salt School]] in [[Baildon]]). He then attended [[University College London]] where he gained his BSc and in 1961 a PhD under the supervision of [[Harrie Massey]] and [[Robert Boyd (physicist)|Robert Lewis Fullarton Boyd]].

== Career ==
⚫
He then moved to the University of Leicester as Assistant Lecturer in 1960. He became Deputy Director of Space Research in 1967, and was one of the pioneers of using [[rocket]]s and [[satellite]]s for research in the UK. He became first Director of the [[X-ray Astronomy]] group in 1974. His research is in the area of [[active galaxies]], and one of his many discoveries is that [[black holes]] are common in the [[universe]].


Ken Pounds became Professor of Space Physics in 1973. He was appointed Head of the [[Academic department|Department]] of Physics in 1986, and the following year took the decision to merge with the [[Astronomy]] department to create the present Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Ken Pounds became Professor of Space Physics in 1973. He was appointed Head of the [[Academic department|Department]] of Physics in 1986, and the following year took the decision to merge with the [[Astronomy]] department to create the present Department of Physics and Astronomy.


He was a member of the [[Science and Engineering Research Council]], 1980–1984; President of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]], 1990–1992; and was seconded as the first Chief Executive of the newly-formed [[Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council]], 1994–1998, following the restructuring of the Research Councils. He then returned to Leicester as Head of Department until his retirement in 2002. He remains active in the Department as a research [[fellow]].
He was a member of the [[Science and Engineering Research Council]], 1980–1984; President of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]], 1990–1992; and was seconded as the first Chief Executive of the newly formed [[Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council]], 1994–1998, following the restructuring of the Research Councils. He then returned to Leicester as Head of Department until his retirement in 2002. He remains active in the Department as a research [[fellow]].


== Awards and honours ==
Pounds was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1981, and appointed a CBE in 1984. He holds five [[honorary degree|honorary]] doctorates, including the rare distinction of an honorary degree from his own institution, the University of Leicester, in 2005.
Pounds was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1981, and appointed a CBE in 1984. He holds five [[honorary degree|honorary]] doctorates, including the rare distinction of an honorary degree from his own institution, the University of Leicester, in 2005. The asteroid [[4281 Pounds]], discovered by [[Edward Bowell]] in 1985, was named in his honour. The official naming citation was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on 4 October 1990 ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 17030}}).<ref name="MPC-object" /> In 2010, the [[National Portrait Gallery, London]] purchased a portrait of Pounds by the photographer Max Alexander for its permanent collection.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPG x133359; Ken Pounds - Portrait - National Portrait Gallery |url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw198652 |website=National Portrait Gallery, London |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
⚫
*[http://hcr3.isiknowledge.com/author.cgi?&link1=Browse&link2=Results&id=2271 Pounds, Kenneth A.], ISI HightlyCited.com

⚫
*[http://www.le.ac.uk/ua/pr/press/endofanera.html End of an Era in Physics and Astronomy] &ndash; University of Leicester press release on Ken Pounds's retirement, October 2002
<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web
⚫
*[http://www.le.ac.uk/press/bulletin/bulletindec05-jan06.pdf University of Leicester Bulletin] (PDF), December 2005 / January 2006 &ndash; Ken Pounds receives honorary degree
|title = 4281 Pounds (1985 TE1)
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=4281
|accessdate = 16 May 2018}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

== External links ==
⚫
* [http://hcr3.isiknowledge.com/author.cgi?&link1=Browse&link2=Results&id=2271 Pounds, Kenneth A.], ISI HighlyCited.com
⚫
* [http://www.le.ac.uk/ua/pr/press/endofanera.html End of an Era in Physics and Astronomy] &ndash; University of Leicester press release on Ken Pounds's retirement, October 2002
⚫
* [http://www.le.ac.uk/press/bulletin/bulletindec05-jan06.pdf University of Leicester Bulletin] (PDF), December 2005 / January 2006 &ndash; Ken Pounds receives honorary degree
* {{NPG name|id=124310}}

{{FRS 1981}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pounds, Ken}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pounds, Ken}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:People from Bradford]]
[[Category:Scientists from Bradford]]
[[Category:English astronomers]]
[[Category:20th-century British astronomers]]
[[Category:English physicists]]
[[Category:English physicists]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
Line 25: Line 50:
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society]]

[[Category:Science and Technology Facilities Council]]
{{UK-astronomer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 07:55, 3 June 2023

Kenneth Alwyne Pounds, CBE, FRS (born 17 November 1934) is Emeritus Professor of physics at the University of Leicester.

Early life

[edit]

He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, where he went to Salt Grammar School (now Titus Salt School in Baildon). He then attended University College London where he gained his BSc and in 1961 a PhD under the supervision of Harrie Massey and Robert Lewis Fullarton Boyd.

Career

[edit]

He then moved to the University of Leicester as Assistant Lecturer in 1960. He became Deputy Director of Space Research in 1967, and was one of the pioneers of using rockets and satellites for research in the UK. He became first Director of the X-ray Astronomy group in 1974. His research is in the area of active galaxies, and one of his many discoveries is that black holes are common in the universe.

Ken Pounds became Professor of Space Physics in 1973. He was appointed Head of the Department of Physics in 1986, and the following year took the decision to merge with the Astronomy department to create the present Department of Physics and Astronomy.

He was a member of the Science and Engineering Research Council, 1980–1984; President of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1990–1992; and was seconded as the first Chief Executive of the newly formed Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, 1994–1998, following the restructuring of the Research Councils. He then returned to Leicester as Head of Department until his retirement in 2002. He remains active in the Department as a research fellow.

Awards and honours

[edit]

Pounds was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1981, and appointed a CBE in 1984. He holds five honorary doctorates, including the rare distinction of an honorary degree from his own institution, the University of Leicester, in 2005. The asteroid 4281 Pounds, discovered by Edward Bowell in 1985, was named in his honour. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 4 October 1990 (M.P.C. 17030).[1] In 2010, the National Portrait Gallery, London purchased a portrait of Pounds by the photographer Max Alexander for its permanent collection.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "4281 Pounds (1985 TE1)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. ^ "NPG x133359; Ken Pounds - Portrait - National Portrait Gallery". National Portrait Gallery, London. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ken_Pounds&oldid=1158310832"