| Alan Cottrell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 July 1919 |
| Nationality | British |
| Fields | Metallurgist, Physicist |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
Sir Alan Howard Cottrell, FRS (born 17 July 1919) is 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 is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.[8]. Cottrell was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex in July 1982.
| 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 |