This is an archive page

US mini logoHome | A-Z Index | People | Reference | Contact us

Rough scientist wins top physics award


* 10 September 2002 *

Rough scientist wins top physics award

Jonathan Hare

Jonathan Hare

A Sussex scientist has landed a top award from the Institute of Physics for his efforts in promoting physics.

The Public Awareness of Physics Award recognises the work of Dr Jonathan Hare from the University of Sussex, who spends much of his time promoting science to the public and schools through lecture tours and a variety of television programmes.

Dr Hare has set up a Creative Science Centre at the University to act as a focus for his popular science workshops and talks. One of his most popular activities is a workshop in which participants get to make a model of a carbon molecule known as a "Buckminsterfullerene". His television credits for the BBC include Tomorrow's World, Horizon, Rough Science and Hollywood Science.

When asked what he enjoys most about communicating science to others, Dr Hare said: "When I am with a group of people and we are relaxed and just chatting about science, I know things are going well. So I like trying to communicate science by leaving out some of the technical details and aim to enjoy sharing a moment with people."

When not gracing our TV screens, or giving workshops and talks, Dr Hare is still hard at work doing research. His latest research brings together nanotechnology, Rough Science and his own love of experimenting. On his return home from filming the first series of Rough Science, Dr Hare used ice cubes, pencils and screws to adapt a seawater battery made during one of the programmes. This battery device has now been turned into a nanotube (a very small) version by another researcher at Sussex.

Dr Hare is one of five winners to receive a Public Awareness of Physics Award from the Institute of Physics and will be presented with his prize tomorrow (11 September) at the National Space Centre in Leicester during the British Association Festival of Science. Toby Murcott, editor of the cable science channel Einstein TV, will present the awards.




* Notes for editors *

Dr Jonathan Hare: 01273 606755, ext. 3171, email J.P.Hare@sussex.ac.uk.

Press Office contacts: Alison Field or Peter Simmons, University of Sussex, Tel. 01273 678888,

Fax 01273 877456, email A.Field@sussex.ac.uk or P.J.Simmons@sussex.ac.uk.

Institute of Physics: Shuk Kwan Liu, Public Relations Officer, tel. 020 7470 4814, email shuk_kwan.liu@iop.org.




* Useful links *

Information for Journalists   Previous press releases   University Homepage


This is an archive page

  Contact the University | Disclaimer | Feedback