Jim Al-Khalili
Jameel Sadik "Jim" Al-Khalili CBE FRS HonFREng FInstP (Arabic: جميل صادق الخليلي; born 20 September 1962[4]) is an Iraqi-British theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster. He is professor of theoretical physics and chair in the public engagement in science at the University of Surrey. He is a regular broadcaster and presenter of science programmes on BBC radio and television, and a frequent commentator about science in other British media.
Jim Al-Khalili
In 2014, Al-Khalili was named as a RISE (Recognising Inspirational Scientists and Engineers) leader by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).[6][7] He was President of Humanists UK between January 2013 and January 2016.[8][9][10]
Early life and education[edit]
Al-Khalili was born in Baghdad in 1962.[4] His father was an Iraqi Air Force engineer, and his English mother was a librarian.[5] Al-Khalili settled permanently in the United Kingdom in 1979.[4] After completing (and retaking) his A-levels over three years until 1982,[5] he studied physics at the University of Surrey and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986. He stayed on at Surrey to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree in nuclear reaction theory, which he obtained in 1989, rather than accepting a job offer from the National Physical Laboratory.[11]
Personal life[edit]
Al-Khalili lives in Southsea, Portsmouth, with his wife Julie.[5] They have a son and daughter. Al-Khalili describes himself as an atheist and a humanist,[45] remarking, "as the son of a Protestant Christian mother and a Shia Muslim father, I have nevertheless ended up without a religious bone in my body".[46] Al-Khalili became vice president of Humanists UK in 2016 after stepping down as its president.[47] He is also a patron of Guildford-based educational, cultural and social community hub, The Guildford Institute.[48]
A list of Jim Al-Khalili's peer reviewed research papers can be found on Google Scholar[2] and Scopus.[7] His published books include:
His essays, chapters and other contributions include:
Jim Al-Khalili has written one science fiction novel: