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Early Life
Niels Bohr was born in Denmark to Christian and Ellen Bohr -
The Education of Niels Bohr
After leaving school at Gammelholm Latin School, he went on to major in physics at Copenhagen University. He also attained a Master's degree in math, and a PhD in philosophy -
Pre Career Life
After earning his PhD, Bohr went to study with the scientist who discovered the electron, J.J. Thompson. During his studies, he also married Margrethe Nørlund -
Career
After his time in England with Thompson, Bohr returned home to teach at Copenhagen University. During this time, he also began a campaign to establish an Institute of Theoretical Physics. Today, this university is known as the Niel Bohrs Institute -
The Atom
Bohr developed his own idea of the structure of an atom. For his contribution to the science behind atoms and the radiation they emit, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 -
The Liquid Droplet Theory
After a decade of working on quantum mechanics, Bohr began focusing on the nuclei of an atom. Shortly after winning the Nobel Prize, he developed the Liquid Droplet Theory. This represents the nucleus of an atom via water droplet. In 1939, he published a paper on "The Mechanism of Nuclear Fission" This theory and its discoveries would be instrumental in the development of the first atomic bomb. -
The Manhattan Project
After hearing word that his family was in danger for their Jewish faith, Bohr and his wife fled to Sweden. During his time, he convinced the King of Sweden to provide asylum status for refugees to escape Nazism. Shortly after, he was invited to Washington D.C. where he would live under a secret name in a secret apartment. His time here would be spent working on the Manhattan Project with some of the most intelligent people on the Allies side during World War 2. -
List of Awards
After the war ended, Bohr returned to Copenhagen and was reinstated as President of the Royal Danish Academy of Arts & Sciences. He passed away in 1962. Below is a list of awards received
1921- Hughes Medal
1922- Nobel Prize
1923- Matteuci Medal
1926- Franklin Medal, member of the Royal Society
1938- Copley Medal
1947- Order of the Elephant
1957- Atoms of Peace Award
1961- Sonning Award
1963- Postage stamp with Bohr, atom bomb and formula for hydrogen levels
