John Charles Polanyi

Born: January 23, 1929
Place of Birth: Berlin, Germany

• John Polanyi was born in Germany but his father moved his family to England in 1933.

• Polanyi's father became a distinguished chemistry professor at the University of Manchester.

• At age 11, because of World War II, John Polanyi was sent to live in Canada by his father.

• After the war, he returned to England and decided to study at his father's institution completing his B.Sc. in 1949 and his doctorate degree in 1952.

• In the same year, Polanyi emigrated to Canada where he worked briefly with Gerhard Herzberg at the National Research Council.

• Soon he was employed by Princeton University until in 1956, John Polanyi accepted a lecturing position with the University of Toronto..

• Polanyi became a full professor at Toronto in 1962 and distinguished himself by authoring reports, articles, and books.

• He often dealt with the ethical concepts involved in science work, particular that dealing with armaments.

• He became very interested in the study of molecules and what happens when they collide.

• John Polanyi was awarded a share of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1986 with two other scientists.

• His prize had centered on the study of infra-red radiation that was produced in the creation of molecules.

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Last Updated: February 18, 2011
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