Samuel Curran
Encyclopedia
Sir Samuel Crowe Curran (1912–1998), FRS
, FRSE, was a physicist
and the first Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde
- the first of the new technical universities in Britain.
He is the inventor of the scintillation counter
, the proportional counter
, and the proximity fuse
.
in Northern Ireland, but was taken as an infant to Scotland where he spent the remainder of his childhood. After schooling at Wishaw
he completed his first degree in mathematics
, earning first class honours and a PhD in physics at the University of Glasgow
before taking a second PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory
as a member of St John's College, Cambridge
. While at Cambridge he met his future wife, Joan Strothers
who was also studying for a doctorate in physics.
At the start of the Second World War Curran and Strothers went to work at the Telecommunications Research Establishment
at Worth Matravers
on the development of radar
. In 1944, shortly after moving to the University of California, Berkeley
to participate in the Manhattan Project
, developing the atomic bomb, he invented the scintillation counter
, a device widely used to this day to measure ionizing radiation.
After the war Curran worked at the University of Glasgow and at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston
and invented the proportional counter
in 1948.
In 1959, he took up the position of principal of the Royal College of Science and Technology
in Glasgow
which he led to full university status in 1964 as the University of Strathclyde
, being appointed its first Principal and Vice-Chancellor. In doing so, he helped create the first new university in Scotland for 381 years and the first technological university in Britain, thus initiating the trend of formation of modern technical universities in Britain. He remained at the university until his retirement in 1980. In his honour, the new building for the Andersonian Library
was named after him the following year.
Following the birth of a handicapped daughter, the Currans set up the Scottish Association of Parents of Handicapped Children, now known as Enable, with Sir Samuel Curran serving as its president from 1964 to 1991.
Sir Samuel Curran died on 15 February 1998 in hospital in Glasgow, aged 85.
"Counting Tubes", S.C. Curran, Academic Press (New York), 1949, (with J. D. Craggs);
"Luminescence and the Scintillation Counter", 1953;
"Alpha, Beta and Gamma Ray Spectroscopy", 1964;
"Energy Resources and the Environment" (jt), 1976;
"Energy and Human Needs" (with J. S. Curran), 1979;
"Issues in Science and Education", 1988;
...and various papers on nuclear researches and education in Proc. Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, FRSE, was a physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and the first Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
- the first of the new technical universities in Britain.
He is the inventor of the scintillation counter
Scintillation counter
A scintillation counter measures ionizing radiation. The sensor, called a scintillator, consists of a transparent crystal, usually phosphor, plastic , or organic liquid that fluoresces when struck by ionizing radiation. A sensitive photomultiplier tube measures the light from the crystal...
, the proportional counter
Proportional counter
A proportional counter is a measurement device to count particles of ionizing radiation and measure their energy.A proportional counter is a type of gaseous ionization detector. Its operation is similar to that of a Geiger-Müller counter, but uses a lower operating voltage. An inert gas is used to...
, and the proximity fuse
Proximity fuze
A proximity fuze is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance to target becomes smaller than a predetermined value or when the target passes through a given plane...
.
Life
Samuel was born on 23 May 1912 at BallymenaBallymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
in Northern Ireland, but was taken as an infant to Scotland where he spent the remainder of his childhood. After schooling at Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
he completed his first degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, earning first class honours and a PhD in physics at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
before taking a second PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
as a member of St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. While at Cambridge he met his future wife, Joan Strothers
Joan Curran
Lady Joan Strothers Curran was a Welsh scientist. She and her husband, Sir Samuel Curran, played important roles in the defense of the allied forces of World War II.-Biography:...
who was also studying for a doctorate in physics.
At the start of the Second World War Curran and Strothers went to work at the Telecommunications Research Establishment
Telecommunications Research Establishment
The Telecommunications Research Establishment was the main United Kingdom research and development organization for radio navigation, radar, infra-red detection for heat seeking missiles, and related work for the Royal Air Force during World War II and the years that followed. The name was...
at Worth Matravers
Worth Matravers
Worth Matravers is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. The village is situated on the cliffs west of Swanage. It comprises limestone cottages and farm houses and is built around a pond, which is a regular feature on postcards of the Isle of Purbeck.The civil parish stretches...
on the development of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
. In 1944, shortly after moving to the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
to participate in the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, developing the atomic bomb, he invented the scintillation counter
Scintillation counter
A scintillation counter measures ionizing radiation. The sensor, called a scintillator, consists of a transparent crystal, usually phosphor, plastic , or organic liquid that fluoresces when struck by ionizing radiation. A sensitive photomultiplier tube measures the light from the crystal...
, a device widely used to this day to measure ionizing radiation.
After the war Curran worked at the University of Glasgow and at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston
Aldermaston
Aldermaston is a rural village, civil parish and electoral ward in Berkshire, South-East England. In the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the parish had a population of 927. The village is on the southern edge of the River Kennet flood plain, near the Hampshire county boundary...
and invented the proportional counter
Proportional counter
A proportional counter is a measurement device to count particles of ionizing radiation and measure their energy.A proportional counter is a type of gaseous ionization detector. Its operation is similar to that of a Geiger-Müller counter, but uses a lower operating voltage. An inert gas is used to...
in 1948.
In 1959, he took up the position of principal of the Royal College of Science and Technology
Royal College of Science and Technology
The Royal College of Science and Technology, situated at 138 George Street in Glasgow, Scotland was the principal predecessor institution of the University of Strathclyde, and now serves as one of the main educational buildings of the campus.-History:...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
which he led to full university status in 1964 as the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, being appointed its first Principal and Vice-Chancellor. In doing so, he helped create the first new university in Scotland for 381 years and the first technological university in Britain, thus initiating the trend of formation of modern technical universities in Britain. He remained at the university until his retirement in 1980. In his honour, the new building for the Andersonian Library
Andersonian Library
The Andersonian Library is the principal university library of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Established in 1796, it is one of the largest of its type in Scotland.-History:...
was named after him the following year.
Following the birth of a handicapped daughter, the Currans set up the Scottish Association of Parents of Handicapped Children, now known as Enable, with Sir Samuel Curran serving as its president from 1964 to 1991.
Sir Samuel Curran died on 15 February 1998 in hospital in Glasgow, aged 85.
Major publications
The following is based on the list in Who's Who:"Counting Tubes", S.C. Curran, Academic Press (New York), 1949, (with J. D. Craggs);
"Luminescence and the Scintillation Counter", 1953;
"Alpha, Beta and Gamma Ray Spectroscopy", 1964;
"Energy Resources and the Environment" (jt), 1976;
"Energy and Human Needs" (with J. S. Curran), 1979;
"Issues in Science and Education", 1988;
...and various papers on nuclear researches and education in Proc. Royal Society