Michael Thompson (academic)

For the mathematician, see J. Michael T. Thompson.

Sir Michael Warwick Thompson (born 1 June 1931),[1] is a British academic, who served as vice-chancellor of the Universities of East Anglia and Birmingham.

He was educated at the University of Liverpool, where he graduated with a first in physics. He was a D.Sc. in physics in 1963 from the University of Liverpool. His academic work included early research on atomic collisions in solids.[2]

He was appointed Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Sussex in 1965, and remained at Sussex for a further 15 years, during which time he served as pro-vice-chancellor and acting vice-chancellor of the university. In 1980 he was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia,[3] and remained in the post until 1987 when he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, retiring in 1996. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and was knighted in 1991. He is a member of the Athenaeum Club. He also once had Dinner with Oppenheimer.

His son Paul Thompson is currently Chair of the British Council.

References

  1. ^ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2014. Prof Sir Michael Thompson, Vice–Chancellor and Principal, University of Birmingham, 1987–96, 80
  2. ^ Ion Beams in Nanoscience and Technology, p. viii (editor's note) (2009)(ISBN 978-3642006227)
  3. ^ Sanderson, Michael. The history of the University of East Anglia, Norwich, p.301 (2003) (ISBN 978-1852853365)
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham
1987-1996 		Succeeded by