Leonard Woodward
Encyclopedia
Leonard Woodward was a British
chemist
who was associated with the University of Oxford
for more than 30 years, and who was a leading authority in the field of Raman spectroscopy
.
, where he was a scholar
and was awarded a first-class degree. He then went to the University of Leipzig
where he obtained his doctorate. After teaching at the University of Nottingham
and the University of Manchester
, he worked for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the Fuel Research Station. He was appointed Fellow and Tutor in Chemistry at Jesus College, Oxford
in 1939, holding the position until his retirement in 1970. He was then appointed an Emeritus Fellow. He also served the college as Dean and, later, Vice-Principal.
During the Second World War, he worked with D. L. Chapman, another Fellow of Jesus College, in researching the separation of uranium
isotopes by gaseous diffusion
. At the end of the war, he worked on Raman spectroscopy
, a field in which he was regarded as one of the leading authorities, publishing many papers. He was also highly regarded as a chemistry tutor.
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...
chemist
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
who was associated with the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
for more than 30 years, and who was a leading authority in the field of Raman spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique used to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system.It relies on inelastic scattering, or Raman scattering, of monochromatic light, usually from a laser in the visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet range...
.
Biography
Woodward was educated at Lincoln College, OxfordLincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, where he was a scholar
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and was awarded a first-class degree. He then went to the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
where he obtained his doctorate. After teaching at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, he worked for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the Fuel Research Station. He was appointed Fellow and Tutor in Chemistry at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1939, holding the position until his retirement in 1970. He was then appointed an Emeritus Fellow. He also served the college as Dean and, later, Vice-Principal.
During the Second World War, he worked with D. L. Chapman, another Fellow of Jesus College, in researching the separation of uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
isotopes by gaseous diffusion
Gaseous diffusion
Gaseous diffusion is a technology used to produce enriched uranium by forcing gaseous uranium hexafluoride through semi-permeable membranes. This produces a slight separation between the molecules containing uranium-235 and uranium-238 . By use of a large cascade of many stages, high separations...
. At the end of the war, he worked on Raman spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique used to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system.It relies on inelastic scattering, or Raman scattering, of monochromatic light, usually from a laser in the visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet range...
, a field in which he was regarded as one of the leading authorities, publishing many papers. He was also highly regarded as a chemistry tutor.