Ernest Rutherford was a New Zealand-born physicist who is often referred to as the "father of nuclear physics." He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of radioactivity and for his discovery of the atomic nucleus. Rutherford's famous gold foil experiment led to the development of the nuclear model of the atom, which revolutionized our understanding of atomic structure. His contributions to the field of physics earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908. Rutherford's work laid the foundation for many important developments in nuclear science and technology.