Sir Harold Kroto
Who was Sir Harold Kroto?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1996)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Sir Harold Kroto (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Sir Harold Walter Kroto, originally Harold Walter Krotoschiner, was born on October 7, 1939, in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. His parents were refugees who escaped Nazi Germany, and he grew up in a family that valued education and curiosity. He went to Bolton School and later studied at the University of Sheffield, where he developed a love for chemistry, setting him on a path to significant discoveries in molecular science.
Kroto spent most of his career at the University of Sussex, researching and teaching for nearly 40 years. He focused on spectroscopy and carbon molecules, work that was vital to his later Nobel Prize-winning discoveries. During his time at Sussex, he became known for his innovative research, covering areas from astrochemistry to the basic structure of matter.
In 1985, Kroto's career-defining moment came when he teamed up with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley at Rice University in Texas. Their experiments led to finding fullerenes, a new form of carbon with a unique cage-like structure similar to a soccer ball. They named this molecule buckminsterfullerene, after architect Buckminster Fuller. This discovery opened up new possibilities in materials science and nanotechnology, earning the trio the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
In 2004, Kroto moved to Florida State University as the Francis Eppes Professor of Chemistry, continuing his research until he retired. Beyond his scientific contributions, he was a strong advocate for science education and often spoke out against incorporating religious beliefs into scientific discussions. Throughout his career, he received many honors, including the Copley Medal in 2004, the Michael Faraday Prize in 2001, and numerous honorary doctorates from universities worldwide. Sir Harold Kroto passed away on April 30, 2016, in Lewes, East Sussex, leaving behind a legacy of scientific innovation and education.
Before Fame
Harold Kroto's early life was influenced by his family's experience as refugees from Nazi Germany, fostering in him a strong appreciation for education and science. His parents changed their last name from Krotoschiner to Kroto during his childhood. At Bolton School, he excelled in sciences and developed a particular interest in chemistry and graphics, skills that would later benefit his scientific career.
His path to fame started during his undergraduate studies at the University of Sheffield in the 1960s, where he focused on chemistry and became interested in spectroscopy. This was a time of rapid advancement in molecular science, with new techniques for studying atomic and molecular structures. His early research into carbon chains and interstellar molecules placed him at the forefront of what would become the new field of astrochemistry.
Key Achievements
- Co-discovered fullerenes, earning the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Received the prestigious Copley Medal from the Royal Society in 2004
- Pioneered research in astrochemistry and interstellar molecules
- Established new methodologies in molecular spectroscopy
- Received multiple honorary doctorates from universities across three continents
Did You Know?
- 01.He changed his surname from Krotoschiner to Kroto during his youth
- 02.He had a strong interest in graphic design and created scientific illustrations throughout his career
- 03.His discovery of fullerenes was initially met with skepticism from the scientific community
- 04.He was a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, reflecting his advocacy for rational thinking
- 05.The buckminsterfullerene molecule is also known as a 'buckyball' due to its spherical shape
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 1996 | for their discovery of fullerenes |
| Copley Medal | 2004 | — |
| honorary doctor of Tel Aviv University | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense | 2012 | — |
| Michael Faraday Prize | 2001 | — |
| doctor honoris causa of Keiō University | — | — |
| Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry | — | — |
| Tilden Prize | 1981 | — |
| honorary doctorate of Hasselt University | 1993 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Bielefeld | — | — |
| Carbon Medal | 1997 | — |
| Longstaff Prize | 1993 | — |
| James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials | 1992 | — |
| Dalton Medal | 1997 | — |
| IET Kelvin Lecture | 1998 | — |
| EPS Europhysics Prize | 1994 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Poitiers | 2011 | — |