Alan Cottrell
| Alan Cottrell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 July 1919 |
| Died | 15 February 2012 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | British |
| Fields | Metallurgist, Physicist |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
Sir Alan Howard Cottrell, FRS (17 July 1919 – 15 February 2012) was a British metallurgist and physicist. He received his BSc degree from the University of Birmingham in 1939 and a PhD for research on welding in 1942. He joined the staff as a lecturer at Birmingham, being made professor in 1949, and transforming the teaching of the department by emphasizing modern concepts of solid state physics.[1] In 1955 he moved to A.E.R.E. Harwell, to become Deputy Head of Metallurgy under Monty Finniston.[1]
From 1958 to 1965 Cottrell was Goldsmiths' Professor of Metallurgy at Cambridge University, and a fellow of Christ's College. He later worked for the government in various capacities, ultimately as Chief Scientific Adviser from 1971 to 1974,[2] before becoming Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, from 1973 to 1986,[3] and Vice-Chancellor of the University in 1977-1979.
Cottrell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1955, and won its Hughes Medal in 1961,[4] the Francis J. Clamer Medal in 1962, the James Douglas Gold Medal in 1974[5] and the Copley Medal (the Royal Society's highest award) in 1996.[6][7] He was knighted in 1971.[3] He was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.[8] Cottrell was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex in July 1982[citation needed] and an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Science) from the University of Bath in 1973.[9]
Cottrell died on 15 February 2012 after a brief illness.[10]
Selected Books [edit]
- Theoretical Structural Metallurgy (1948)
- Dislocations and Plastic Flows in Crystals (1953)
- Superconductivity (1964)
- An Introduction to Metallurgy (1967)
- Portrait of Nature : the world as seen by modern science (1975)
- How Safe is Nuclear Energy? (1982)
- Concepts in the Electron Theory of Alloys (1998)
References [edit]
- ^ a b History of Metallurgy at Birmingham Engineering at Birmingham University
- ^ Scientists in Whitehall by Philip Gummett p49, available at Google books
- ^ a b Masters of Jesus College
- ^ Hughes archive winners 1989 - 1902 Royal Society
- ^ AIME Awards
- ^ Copley recent winners: 1990 - present day Royal Society
- ^ Holders of the Copley medal (1731–2005) Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004
- ^ "The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences: Alan Cottrell". Retrieved 2009-05-01.[dead link]
- ^ http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/older.html
- ^ Mention of Alan Cottrell's death
External links [edit]
- The National Archives lists his reports
- Listen to an oral history interview with Sir Alan Cottrell - a life story interview recorded for An Oral History of British Science at the British Library
- Tribute by Prof Peter Hirsch
- Obituary, Daily Telegraph, 19 February 2012
- Obituary by Dr J.A. Charles
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Solly Zuckerman |
Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government 1971–1974 |
Succeeded by Dr Robert Press |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Denys Page |
Master of Jesus College, Cambridge 1973 - 1986 |
Succeeded by Colin Renfrew |
| Preceded by Dame Rosemary Murray |
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1977–1979 |
Succeeded by Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer |
|
- 1919 births
- 2012 deaths
- British metallurgists
- British physicists
- Fellows of the Royal Society
- Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Alumni of the University of Birmingham
- Academics of the University of Birmingham
- Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge
- Honorary Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge
- Fellows of Jesus College, Cambridge
- Masters of Jesus College, Cambridge
- Knights Bachelor
- Recipients of the Copley Medal
- Chief Scientific Advisers to HM Government
- Chief Scientific Advisers to the Ministry of Defence
- Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cambridge
- Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
- People educated at Moseley School
