Thomas Young Centre
Encyclopedia
The Thomas Young Centre is an alliance of London research groups working on the theory and simulation of
materials (TSM).
It is named after the celebrated scientist and polymath Thomas Young
(1773–1829), who lived and worked in London and is known in the world of science for a number of important discoveries concerning the wave nature of light
, the theory of vision
, the elastic properties of solids
, and the theory of surface tension. The participating research groups are based mainly at Imperial College London
, King's College London
and University College London
(UCL), but there are also members at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. The aims of the TYC are to foster collaboration between TSM research groups in London, to provide a world-class source of graduate education in the field, and to address problems of major importance to industry and society. The current (2009) membership of TYC numbers about 80 research groups, of which six are led by Fellows of the Royal Society
. The TYC research groups are listed on the TYC web-site, which also gives the names of the Executive Committee and the International Advisory Board.
Several TYC groups also belong to the London Centre for Nanotechnology
, a joint enterprise between Imperial College and UCL. The range of research work done by TYC groups is correspondingly broad, and includes topics such as the interaction of water with minerals, materials for the nuclear industry, the design of semiconductor materials for device applications, biomaterials, and many others.
materials (TSM).
It is named after the celebrated scientist and polymath Thomas Young
Thomas Young (scientist)
Thomas Young was an English polymath. He is famous for having partly deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics before Jean-François Champollion eventually expanded on his work...
(1773–1829), who lived and worked in London and is known in the world of science for a number of important discoveries concerning the wave nature of light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
, the theory of vision
Young-Helmholtz theory
The Young–Helmholtz theory is a theory of trichromatic color vision – the manner in which the photoreceptor cells in the eyes of humans and other primates work to enable color vision...
, the elastic properties of solids
Young's modulus
Young's modulus is a measure of the stiffness of an elastic material and is a quantity used to characterize materials. It is defined as the ratio of the uniaxial stress over the uniaxial strain in the range of stress in which Hooke's Law holds. In solid mechanics, the slope of the stress-strain...
, and the theory of surface tension. The participating research groups are based mainly at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(UCL), but there are also members at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. The aims of the TYC are to foster collaboration between TSM research groups in London, to provide a world-class source of graduate education in the field, and to address problems of major importance to industry and society. The current (2009) membership of TYC numbers about 80 research groups, of which six are led by Fellows of the 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"...
. The TYC research groups are listed on the TYC web-site, which also gives the names of the Executive Committee and the International Advisory Board.
Participating academic departments
The breadth of scientific expertise offered by TYC can be inferred from the range of home academic departments of TYC research groups at the three main London Colleges:- Imperial College:
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- King's College:
- Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Physics
- University College London:
- Chemistry
- Civil, Geomatic and Environmenal Engineering
- Earth Sciences
- Electronic and Electrical Engineering
- Physics and Astronomy
- Surgical and Interventional Science
Several TYC groups also belong to the London Centre for Nanotechnology
London Centre for Nanotechnology
The London Centre for Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary research centre in physical and biomedical nanotechnology in London, United Kingdom. It brings together two institutions that are world leaders in nanotechnology, University College London and Imperial College London...
, a joint enterprise between Imperial College and UCL. The range of research work done by TYC groups is correspondingly broad, and includes topics such as the interaction of water with minerals, materials for the nuclear industry, the design of semiconductor materials for device applications, biomaterials, and many others.