Alexis Pappas
Encyclopedia
Alexis Constantin Georg Pappas (16 October 1915 – 12 February 2010) was a Norwegian
chemist. Born to Greek
expatriates in 1915, he moved to Norway a few years later. He specialized in nuclear chemistry
, and was a professor from 1957 to 1985.
Born in London
to Greek parents who lived in Belgium
, but sought refuge in England during World War I
, the family then moved to Norway after the war. Pappas finished
his secondary education at Frogner
School in 1934 and enrolled at the Royal Frederick University
. His master's advisor (in radiation chemistry
) was Ellen Gleditsch, and he graduated with the cand.real. degree in 1940. He started working in the private business, but was also a research assistant
for Gleditsch. From 1947 to 1952, he was a research fellow
, with included studies at the Institut du Radium
and the Collège de France
, and from 1949 to 1951 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. In 1952, he returned to Norway, where he worked at the University of Oslo's quarters for the research council NTNF. In 1954, he took the Dr. Philos degree on the thesis A Radiochemical Study of Fission Yields. From 1954 to 1957, he worked in Uppsala
.
With funding from the Norwegian Cancer Society Pappas was given a professorship in radioisotope studies in 1957. The professorship was changed to nuclear chemistry
in 1962, still at the University of Oslo. He retired in 1985. He was also an adviser and sporadic guest scholar at Cern
from 1957 to 1967, and vice president of its council from 1976 to 1978 (member from 1968 to 1983). He was also deputy chairman of the Norwegian Nuclear Energy Safety Authority
from 1973 to 1993, during its entire existence, and also the president of the Norwegian Chemical Society
from 1966 to 1970. He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1959 to his death, honorary member of the Norwegian Chemical Society from 1993, and in 1979 he was made a Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1979.
He married to Ela Mjøset (1917–2000) in 1942. He died in February 2010 in Oslo.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
chemist. Born to Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
expatriates in 1915, he moved to Norway a few years later. He specialized in nuclear chemistry
Nuclear chemistry
Nuclear chemistry is the subfield of chemistry dealing with radioactivity, nuclear processes and nuclear properties.It is the chemistry of radioactive elements such as the actinides, radium and radon together with the chemistry associated with equipment which are designed to perform nuclear...
, and was a professor from 1957 to 1985.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Greek parents who lived in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, but sought refuge in England during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the family then moved to Norway after the war. Pappas finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education at Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
School in 1934 and enrolled at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. His master's advisor (in radiation chemistry
Radiation chemistry
Radiation chemistry is a subdivision of nuclear chemistry which is the study of the chemical effects of radiation on matter; this is very different from radiochemistry as no radioactivity needs to be present in the material which is being chemically changed by the radiation...
) was Ellen Gleditsch, and he graduated with the cand.real. degree in 1940. He started working in the private business, but was also a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
for Gleditsch. From 1947 to 1952, he was a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
, with included studies at the Institut du Radium
Curie Institute (Paris)
thumb|Centre of protontherapyInstitut Curie is one of the leading medical, biological and biophysical research centres in the world.It is a private non-profit foundation operating a research center on biophysics, cell biology and oncology and a hospital specialized in treatment of cancer...
and the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
, and from 1949 to 1951 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. In 1952, he returned to Norway, where he worked at the University of Oslo's quarters for the research council NTNF. In 1954, he took the Dr. Philos degree on the thesis A Radiochemical Study of Fission Yields. From 1954 to 1957, he worked in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
.
With funding from the Norwegian Cancer Society Pappas was given a professorship in radioisotope studies in 1957. The professorship was changed to nuclear chemistry
Nuclear chemistry
Nuclear chemistry is the subfield of chemistry dealing with radioactivity, nuclear processes and nuclear properties.It is the chemistry of radioactive elements such as the actinides, radium and radon together with the chemistry associated with equipment which are designed to perform nuclear...
in 1962, still at the University of Oslo. He retired in 1985. He was also an adviser and sporadic guest scholar at Cern
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
from 1957 to 1967, and vice president of its council from 1976 to 1978 (member from 1968 to 1983). He was also deputy chairman of the Norwegian Nuclear Energy Safety Authority
Norwegian Nuclear Energy Safety Authority
The Norwegian Nuclear Energy Safety Authority is a defunct Norwegian government agency that was responsible for inspection of nuclear affairs in the country....
from 1973 to 1993, during its entire existence, and also the president of the Norwegian Chemical Society
Norwegian Chemical Society
The Norwegian Chemical Society is a professional society for chemists. Formed in 1893, its purpose is to "promote the interest and understanding of chemistry and chemical technology"....
from 1966 to 1970. He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1959 to his death, honorary member of the Norwegian Chemical Society from 1993, and in 1979 he was made a Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1979.
He married to Ela Mjøset (1917–2000) in 1942. He died in February 2010 in Oslo.