Professor John J. Nolan
Professor John James ‘JJ’ Nolan (1888-1952) was born near Omagh, Co. Tyrone. In 1906 he won a bishop’s scholarship to UCD and graduated with a BA in experimental science in 1909 and an MA in 1910. In 1920 Professor Nolan was appointed as Professor of Experimental Physics in UCD, succeeding his mentor, Professor John McClelland. His research was on ionisation, equilibrium and the relationships of small and large ions in the lower atmosphere. During his career he successfully nominated Cecil Powell and Patrick Blackett for the Nobel Prize in Physics. Professor Nolan served as Dean of Faculty of Science from 1931-1940. In 1940 he became Registrar of UCD a post which he held until his passing in 1952, while lecturing a large class in Earlsfort Terrace.