In this first of two interviews Sir Rex Richards FRS discusses a West Country background and the early development of scientific interests leading to undergraduate chemistry studies at Oxford 1942-45. There is in this introductory conversation reflection on a natural inclination to practical, bench skills. Discussion then progresses to a first research project in infrared spectroscopy, geared to war interests. There is also reference to encounters with Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin and Norman Heatley through interests in penicillin. More complex studies of molecular structure follow this early research, leading to interests in 'magnetic susceptibility' and the development of magnetic resonance spectroscopy facilities in Oxford. Pioneering steps in this are detailed with special reference to various magnet construction initiatives. In this section Sir Rex provides a simple but valuable explanation of how nuclear magnetic resonance imaging techniques probe the structure of molecules and tissues.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging, infrared spectroscopy, the development of NMR studies in Oxford.
Chemistry, Research, Nuclear magnetic resonance,
vid-288, MSVA_030
Permanent link to this resource: https://doi.org/10.24384/000455
Richards, RexBlythe, Max
Learning Resources
Original artefact: 1987 RADAR resource: 2017
Oxford, UK
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