MRS NEWS

Sir Alan Cottrell Receives Von Hippel Award The Materials Research Society's highest dislocation theory and the electron theory honor, the Von Hippel Award, this year of metals and alloys. His books have been will be given to Sir Alan Cottrell, honor- profoundly influential in educating genera- - able distinguished research fellow in the tions of diverse materials scientists. Some of Department of Materials Science and his papers have established links to inor- Metallurgy, Cambridge University. He ganic chemistry, especially his active inter- was cited for "converting crystal disloca- est in what constitutes a metal and in the tions from a handwaving hypothesis to a metal-insulator transition. rigorous discipline, transforming the Sir Alan Cottrell is one of the most hon- understanding of brittle fracture, making ored materials scientists. He was knighted varied and crucial advances in the theory by Queen Elizabeth in 1971, and is a fel- of radiation damage, and for transforming low of both the Royal Society and the the teaching of materials science through- Royal Academy of Engineering. He has out the academic world through his pio- received 16 honorary degrees and an even neering textbooks." The Von Hippel greater number of medals and awards Award is given annually to an individual from professional societies and other in recognition of outstanding contributions organizations around the world. He has to interdisciplinary research on materials. written 11 books, including several clas- Sir Alan's earliest research was in solidly of the whole country." His expertise on sics, and more than 160 scientific papers. practical metallurgy related to welding, the fracture mechanics of reactor pressure Sir Alan received his BSc degree in 1939 work hardening, and precipitation harden- vessels, linked to his knowledge of radia- from the University of Birmingham, fol- ing, areas where he always displayed a fine tion embrittlement, has been valuable to lowed by a PhD degree in 1942. He was a understanding of the fundamentals of designers of nuclear reactors for many lecturer in metallurgy at the University of physics and chemistry. When both the years. Birmingham from 1943 to 1949, professor importance and detailed properties of dis- In an era when the mechanical proper- from 1949 to 1955, followed by three years locations began to be appreciated just after ties of steel belonged to mechanical engi- as deputy head of the Metallurgy Division World War II, he was among the first to neers, particularly fracture potential and of the Atomic Energy Research Establish- relate theoretical concepts to real problems. shaping for manufacture, radiation dam- ment. His posts at Cambridge University One of his many important contributions age was studied by physicists. Sir Alan's include Goldsmiths' professor of metal- was to demonstrate that the existence of an pioneering work in the 1950s and 1960s on lurgy (1958-1965), Fellow of Christ's upper yield point in steel is linked to the the theory of yield point, strain-aging, and College (1958-1970), Master of Jesus trapping of dislocations by mobile intersti- brittle fracture led to an enduring link in College (1974-1986), and vice-chancellor tial carbon atoms—an elegant example of the way engineers and metallurgists study (1977-1979). As Master of Jesus College, his ability to relate old problems to new and control these forms of behavior. His he introduced its first female students. ideas with precision and clarity. elegant studies of topics such as radiation He held a number of scientific advisory Later he turned his talents to a combi- embrittlement and radiation-enhanced posts with the British government, includ- nation of practical and experimental creep brought the perspective of a brilliant ing deputy chief and chief scientific advi- problems associated with materials that metallurgist to a field that had previously sor (studies) to the Ministry of Defense, have been subjected to heavy neutron been dominated by solid-state physicists, deputy and later chief scientific advisor to irradiation, such as in a nuclear reactor. leading to long-term interactive research Her Majesty's government, and numerous Earlier this year he was presented with an by the two professions. The shaping of other scientific advisory posts. He is a for- honorary degree by Cambridge Univer- steel sheet, in particular, is profoundly eign honorary member of the American sity, "There are two particular reasons affected by discontinuous yield, and Sir Academy of Arts and Sciences, a foreign why we should all be grateful to him. The Alan's studies had substantial effects on associate of the National Academy of first concerns the installation of uranium industrial practices. Sciences and the National Academy of rods in a reactor: he perceived that when Sir Alan is held in high esteem by Engineering, and a fellow of ASM Inter- they were lowered into their containers industrialists, as evidenced by his many national and the Royal Swedish Academy and subjected to irradiation, they would advisory appointments and invited lec- of Sciences. not keep shape but would grow in length tures on issues of applied science and Sir Alan has also been chosen to receive and begin to bend; he inspired the design public policy. He has been influential for the Copley Medal this year, which is the of a frame which saved the situation. many years as an expert advisor in frac- highest award that the Royal Society in Second, he made inquiries about the safe- ture mechanics, radiation damage, inter- London can bestow. ty of the containers in the reactor; they metallics (as an advisor to Rolls Royce), Sir Alan Cottrell will present his talk, told him that the walls were sound, and and even as a director of a major British "The Art of Simplification in Materials he asked if they had proved it: hence the company (Fisons). Science," on Wednesday, December 4 cunning use of ultrasound to search for In his classic book, Theoretical Structural after the awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m. in cracks within the walls themselves. Thus Metallurgy, Sir Alan was the first to bring Salon E, Marriott Hotel. he has earned the thanks not only of sci- modern statistical mechanics to the educa- entists and the nuclear industry, but also tion of metallurgists, in addition to bringing

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