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John Pople Biography

Chemist

John Pople was a renowned chemist known for his contributions to quantum chemistry. His work in molecular orbital theory, computational chemistry, and chemical bonding theory had a profound impact on the field of chemistry.

Age Records Position Department Chemistry Publication Age Of 40

Author:John Pople

“I abandoned chemistry to concentrate on mathematics and physics. In 1942, I travelled to Cambridge to take the scholarship examination at Trinity College, received an award and entered the university in October 1943.”

College Mathematics University Physics Awards Chemistry Abandoned Examination Scholarship October Trinity Cambridge Trinity College

Author:John Pople

“Leaving England was a painful decision, and we still have some regrets about it. However, at that time, the research environment for theoretical chemistry was clearly better in the U.S.”

Stills Pain Decision Environment Regret Research England Leaving Painful Chemistry Theoretical

Author:John Pople

“Life with a scientist who is often changing jobs and is frequently away at meetings and on lecture tours is not easy. Without a secure home base, I could not have made much progress.”

Made Home Jobs Easy Progress Scientist Meetings Secure Lectures Home Base Changing Jobs

Author:John Pople

“I was a close observer of the developments in molecular biology.”

Development Biology Observers Molecular Biology

Author:John Pople

“From an early age I was told that I was expected to do more than continue to run a small business. Education was important and seen as a way of moving forward.”

Way Important Running Age Moving Expected Moving Forward Small Business Keep Moving Forward Business Education

Author:John Pople

“Looking through the list of earlier Nobel laureates, I note a large number with whom I became acquainted and with whom I interacted during those years as they passed through Cambridge.”

Years Numbers Notes Lists Nobel Large Numbers Cambridge

Author:John Pople

“I have had many opportunities to visit universities all over the world in the past 50 years.”

World Years Past Opportunity University

Author:John Pople

“Our children were mostly brought up and educated in the Churchill suburb east of Pittsburgh. Each summer, we took them back to England for an extended period.”

Children Periods Summer England Our Children East Educated Suburbs Pittsburgh

Author:John Pople

“I had changed from being a mathematician to a practicing scientist. I was increasingly embarassed that I could no longer follow some of the more modern branches of pure mathematics.”

Modern Changed Pure Scientist Mathematics Branches Mathematician

Author:John Pople

“On my return to Pittsburgh, I resolved to go back to the fundamental problems of electronic structure that I had contemplated abstractly many years earlier.”

Years Problem Return Fundamentals Structure Comeback Pittsburgh

Author:John Pople

“I am delighted to have had students, friends and colleagues in so many nations and to have learned so much of what I know from them. This Nobel Award honours them all.”

Knows Nations Students Awards Honour Colleagues Delighted Nobel

Author:John Pople

“At the age of 12, I developed an intense interest in mathematics. On exposure to algebra, I was fascinated by simultaneous equations and read ahead of the class to the end of the book.”

Book Ends Age Interest Class Mathematics Intense Fascinated Equations Exposure Algebra Simultaneous

Author:John Pople

“In the war, most young men were inducted into the armed forces at the age of 17. A group of students was permitted to attend university before taking part in wartime research projects.”

Men War Age Young Force Chance Groups Students Projects Research University Young Man Take A Chance Armed Forces Wartime

Author:John Pople

About the Author

Born: October 31, 1925
Died: March 15, 2004
Known for: Chemist
Quotes: 14

Books & Sources

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