Michael Mingos
Encyclopedia
David Michael Patrick Mingos FRS (born 6 August 1944) was Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford
from 1999 to 2009, and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
in the University of Oxford
. Michael Mingos is the son of Vasso Mingos, of Athens
, and Rose Enid Billie Mingos née Griffiths.
He was educated at the Harvey Grammar School, King Edward VII School Lytham St Anne's
, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (Chemistry Department Prize 1963, BSc
First Class 1965, Hon DSc
2000), and the University of Sussex
(DPhil
1968, Hon DSc
2001).
Mingos undertook postdoctoral research at Northwestern University
(Fulbright Fellow
1968-70) and at the University of Sussex
(ICI Fellow
1970-71). From 1971 until 1976 he was a Lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London
. He then moved to the University of Oxford as Fellow and Tutor at Keble College
and University Lecturer. From 1977 until 1992 he was also Lecturer at Pembroke
.
His 1984 paper on the polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory
develops Wade's electron counting rules for predicting the molecular geometry
of cluster compounds.
In 1990 he was appointed Reader
in Inorganic Chemistry and for the academic year 1991/92 he served as Assessor
. From 1992 until 1999 he worked at Imperial College London
as Sir Edward Frankland
British Petroleum Professor of Inorganic Chemistry (1992-99) and Dean
of the Royal College of Science
(1996-99).
In 1999 Mingos was appointed Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford and at the same time he became a visiting professor at Imperial College London
. In 2000 he received as a Title of Distinction
the title of professor of inorganic chemistry in the University of Oxford. He was superseded as principal by Professor Keith Gull
on 1 October 2009.
Among many prizes, fellowships, and other awards Michael Mingos was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1992.
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
from 1999 to 2009, and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
in 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...
. Michael Mingos is the son of Vasso Mingos, of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and Rose Enid Billie Mingos née Griffiths.
He was educated at the Harvey Grammar School, King Edward VII School Lytham St Anne's
King Edward VII and Queen Mary School
King Edward VII and Queen Mary School is an HMC Independent Co-educational school in Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire, England.The Lytham Schools Foundation was established in 1719 after a flood disaster in the town. In 1908, one hundred and eighty-nine years after the Foundation's initial formation,...
, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (Chemistry Department Prize 1963, BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
First Class 1965, Hon DSc
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
2000), and the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
(DPhil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
1968, Hon DSc
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
2001).
Mingos undertook postdoctoral research at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
(Fulbright Fellow
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
1968-70) and at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
(ICI Fellow
ICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
1970-71). From 1971 until 1976 he was a Lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He then moved to the University of Oxford as Fellow and Tutor at Keble College
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
and University Lecturer. From 1977 until 1992 he was also Lecturer at Pembroke
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
.
His 1984 paper on the polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory
Polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory
In chemistry the polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory provides electron counting rules useful for predicting the structures of clusters such as borane and carborane clusters. The electron counting rules were originally formulated by Kenneth Wade and were further developed by D. M. P. Mingos and...
develops Wade's electron counting rules for predicting the molecular geometry
Molecular geometry
Molecular geometry or molecular structure is the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms that constitute a molecule. It determines several properties of a substance including its reactivity, polarity, phase of matter, color, magnetism, and biological activity.- Molecular geometry determination...
of cluster compounds.
In 1990 he was appointed Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
in Inorganic Chemistry and for the academic year 1991/92 he served as Assessor
Assessor (Oxford)
The Assessor is an official in the University of Oxford, in England. The position was created in 1960. The Assessor is responsible for student welfare.Former Assessors include Lawrence Goldman, John Landers, and Michael Mingos.-Sources:*...
. From 1992 until 1999 he worked at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
as Sir Edward Frankland
Edward Frankland
Sir Edward Frankland, KCB, FRS was a chemist, one of the foremost of his day. He was an expert in water quality and analysis, and originated the concept of combining power, or valence, in chemistry. He was also one of the originators of organometallic chemistry.-Biography:Edward Frankland was born...
British Petroleum Professor of Inorganic Chemistry (1992-99) and Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Royal College of Science
Royal College of Science
The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...
(1996-99).
In 1999 Mingos was appointed Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford and at the same time he became a visiting professor at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
. In 2000 he received as a Title of Distinction
Title of Distinction
The University of Oxford introduced Titles of Distinction for senior academics in the 1990s. These are not chairs, which are posts funded by endowment for academics with a distinguished career in British and European universities...
the title of professor of inorganic chemistry in the University of Oxford. He was superseded as principal by Professor Keith Gull
Keith Gull
Keith Gull CBE, FRS is a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Molecular Microbiology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford...
on 1 October 2009.
Among many prizes, fellowships, and other awards Michael Mingos was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1992.
Sources and external links
- Oxford University Gazette, Recognition of Distinction 1999-2000: Successful Candidates, Supplement (2) to Gazette No. 4558, Wednesday, 27 September 2000
- University of Oxford Annual Review 1998/99
- Principal of St Edmund Hall
- Michael Mingos CV
- Debrett's People of Today (12th edn, London: Debrett's Peerage, 1999), p. 1362
- Debrett's People of Today online