Allan Chapman | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1946-05-30)30 May 1946 (age 79) Swinton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
| Citizenship | British |
| Alma mater | Lancaster University Wadham College, Oxford |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | History of science |
| Institutions | University of Oxford |
Allan ChapmanFRAS (born 30 May 1946) is a British historian of science.
Allan Chapman was born inSwinton, Lancashire, England and grew up in thePendlebury andClifton districts of the thenSwinton and Pendlebury borough. Having attended the localCromwell Road Secondary Modern School for Boys, Sefton Road, Pendlebury (1957–1962), he then gained his first degree from theUniversity of Lancaster. Subsequently, he undertook a history of scienceDPhil atWadham College, Oxford. He is a historian by training and his special interests areastronomy and scientific biography.
Chapman has been based at theUniversity of Oxford for most of his career, as a member of the Faculty of History, based atWadham College.[1] He is an accomplished lecturer and public speaker (including as visiting professor atGresham College in London). In January 1994, he delivered theRoyal Society history of science Wilkins Lecture, on the subject ofEdmund Halley.
He is also a television presenter, notablyGods in the Sky,[2] covering astronomical religion in early civilisations, andGreat Scientists,[3] presenting the lives of five of the greatest thinkers. Not averse to other forms of television, he also participated in the TV quizUniversity Challenge – The Professionals as part of theRoyal Astronomical Society team, broadcast in June–July 2006.
Chapman formerly taught the study abroad programme of Eurospring forMinnesota State University, Moorhead,Minnesota, USA andBemidji State University,Bemidji, Minnesota, USA. This responsibility has since been handed off to BSU professor Pat Donnay.
He has written many books including biographies such asEngland's Leonardo onRobert Hooke.[4]
Chapman is aFellow of theRoyal Astronomical Society. He is a founder member and president of theSociety for the History of Astronomy (SHA). He received anhonorary doctorate from theUniversity of Central Lancashire in 2004. He is the Honorary President and a member of Salford Astronomical Society, Honorary President of Reading Astronomical Society, Honorary President of theMexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society,[5] Honorary President of Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich)[6] and Vice-President of the Newbury Astronomical Society.[7] President of Preston and District Astronomical Society
