Roy McWeeny
Encyclopedia
Roy McWeeny, born May 19, 1924 in Bradford
, Yorkshire
, England
, is a physicist and academic.
His first degree is in Physics from the University of Leeds
. He then obtained a D.Phil in mathematical physics and quantum theory under the supervision of Charles Coulson
at University College
, University of Oxford
.
From 1948 to 1957 he was lecturer in Physical Chemistry
at King's College, University of Durham
(King's College is now the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
). From 1957 to 1965 he was at the University of Keele
rising to Professor of Theoretical Physics
and Theoretical Chemistry
. From 1966 to 1982 he was Professor of Theoretical Chemistry
at the University of Sheffield
. In 1982 he moved to the University of Pisa
, Italy
where he is now Emeritus Professor.
In 1996 a celebratory festschrift volume was published in his honour containing original
papers by 132 scientists from 19 countries. He was awarded the 2006 Spiers Memorial Medal by the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry
and the Medal Lecture, "Quantum chemistry: The first seventy years", was published in Faraday Discussions
. He has served on the editorial board of Molecular Physics
, Chemical Physics Letters
and International Journal of Quantum Chemistry
.
He has written many scientific papers and seven books, of which perhaps the best known are Coulson's Valence, an update of the famous book by Charles Coulson
in 1951, and the two editions of Methods of Molecular Quantum Mechanics, (the first edition with B. T. Sutcliffe in 1969 and the second edition alone in 1989). He wrote several chapters in the three volumes of the Handbook of Molecular Physics and Quantum Chemistry.
Since 2002 he has been editing an open access series of Basic Books in Science, several of which he has authored himself.
He is an elected member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
and the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and the Humanities.
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, is a physicist and academic.
His first degree is in Physics from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. He then obtained a D.Phil in mathematical physics and quantum theory under the supervision of Charles Coulson
Charles Coulson
Charles Alfred Coulson FRS was an applied mathematician, theoretical chemist and religious author.His major scientific work was as a pioneer of the application of the quantum theory of valency to problems of molecular structure, dynamics and reactivity...
at University College
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, 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...
.
From 1948 to 1957 he was lecturer in Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
at King's College, University of Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
(King's College is now the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle University is a major research-intensive university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England. It was established as a School of Medicine and Surgery in 1834 and became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne by an Act of Parliament in August 1963. Newcastle University is...
). From 1957 to 1965 he was at the University of Keele
Keele University
Keele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
rising to Professor of Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
and Theoretical Chemistry
Theoretical chemistry
Theoretical chemistry seeks to provide theories that explain chemical observations. Often, it uses mathematical and computational methods that, at times, require advanced knowledge. Quantum chemistry, the application of quantum mechanics to the understanding of valency, is a major component of...
. From 1966 to 1982 he was Professor of Theoretical Chemistry
Theoretical chemistry
Theoretical chemistry seeks to provide theories that explain chemical observations. Often, it uses mathematical and computational methods that, at times, require advanced knowledge. Quantum chemistry, the application of quantum mechanics to the understanding of valency, is a major component of...
at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. In 1982 he moved to the University of Pisa
University of Pisa
The University of Pisa , located in Pisa, Tuscany, is one of the oldest universities in Italy. It was formally founded on September 3, 1343 by an edict of Pope Clement VI, although there had been lectures on law in Pisa since the 11th century...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where he is now Emeritus Professor.
In 1996 a celebratory festschrift volume was published in his honour containing original
papers by 132 scientists from 19 countries. He was awarded the 2006 Spiers Memorial Medal by the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
and the Medal Lecture, "Quantum chemistry: The first seventy years", was published in Faraday Discussions
Faraday Discussions
Faraday Discussions is a scientific journal publishing original research papers presented at a long-running series of conferences on physical chemistry, chemical physics and biophysical chemistry which are also called Faraday Discussions, together with a record of the comments made at the meeting....
. He has served on the editorial board of Molecular Physics
Molecular Physics (journal)
Molecular Physics is an international peer-reviewed scientific journal covering the interface between chemistry and physics, in particular chemical physics and physical chemistry. It covers both theoretical and experiment molecular science, including electronic structure, molecular dynamics,...
, Chemical Physics Letters
Chemical Physics Letters
Chemical Physics Letters is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, published since 1967 by Elsevier. It publishes brief papers in the field of Chemical Physics. The current editors are David Clary, Villy Sundström and the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Ahmed Zewail....
and International Journal of Quantum Chemistry
International Journal of Quantum Chemistry
The International Journal of Quantum Chemistry is an international peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original, primary research and review articles on all aspects of quantum chemistry, defined as "Theory and Computation in Chemistry, Physics, and Molecular Biology". The impact factor of...
.
He has written many scientific papers and seven books, of which perhaps the best known are Coulson's Valence, an update of the famous book by Charles Coulson
Charles Coulson
Charles Alfred Coulson FRS was an applied mathematician, theoretical chemist and religious author.His major scientific work was as a pioneer of the application of the quantum theory of valency to problems of molecular structure, dynamics and reactivity...
in 1951, and the two editions of Methods of Molecular Quantum Mechanics, (the first edition with B. T. Sutcliffe in 1969 and the second edition alone in 1989). He wrote several chapters in the three volumes of the Handbook of Molecular Physics and Quantum Chemistry.
Since 2002 he has been editing an open access series of Basic Books in Science, several of which he has authored himself.
He is an elected member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
The International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science is an international scientific learned society covering all applications of quantum theory to chemistry and chemical physics. It was created in Menton in 1967. The founding members were Raymond Daudel, Per-Olov Löwdin, Robert G. Parr, John...
and the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and the Humanities.
External links
- Interview at Early Ideas in the History of Quantum Chemistry.
- Involvement with Learning Development Institute
- His Learning Development Institute resume
- International Journal of Quantum ChemistryInternational Journal of Quantum ChemistryThe International Journal of Quantum Chemistry is an international peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original, primary research and review articles on all aspects of quantum chemistry, defined as "Theory and Computation in Chemistry, Physics, and Molecular Biology". The impact factor of...
, (1996), Volume 60, 3. His autobiography.