Brian Flowers, Baron Flowers
Encyclopedia
Brian Hilton Flowers, Baron Flowers FRS
(13 September 1924 – 25 June 2010) was a British
physicist and academican.
in Swansea
and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
, where he graduated with a Master of Arts
. Flowers was further educated at the University of Birmingham
, where he gained a Doctor of Science
degree.
from 1944 to 1946, he researched in nuclear physics and atomic energy at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
(AERE) from 1946 to 1950 and was member of the department of mathematical physics at the University of Birmingham
from 1950 to 1952. In 1952, he became the head of the theoretical physics division at AERE, holding this post until 1958. At the Victoria University of Manchester
, Flowers was Professor of theoretical physics from 1958 to 1961, Langworthy Professor
of physics from 1961 to 1972 as well as chairman of the Science Research Council from 1967 to 1973. At the University of London
, he was rector of Imperial College London
from 1973 to 1985 and finally vice-chancellor from 1985 to 1990. Between 1994 and 2001, he was chancellor of the Victoria University of Manchester
.
Flowers was chair of the Computer Board for Universities and Research Council from 1966 to 1970, member of the Atomic Energy Authority from 1971 to 1981 and president of the Institute of Physics
from 1972 to 1974. He was further chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
from 1973 to 1976, president of the European Science Foundation
from 1974 to 1980 and president of the National Society for Clean Air from 1977 to 1979. Between 1978 and 1981, Flowers was chair of the Commission on Energy and the Environment, between 1979 and 1980, of the University of London Working Party on future of medical and dental teaching resources and between 1983 and 1985, of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals. He was also a member of the council of the Academia Europaea
from 1988 to 1991, governor of Middlesex University
from 1992 to 2001 and chair of the Committee of Enquiry into the Academic Year in 1992 and 1993. For the Royal Postgraduate Medical School
, he was member of the council and vice-chairman from 1990 to 1997. Between 1991 and 1995, Flowers was member of the Management Board of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and between 1994 and 1995, its chairman. For the Nuffield Foundation
he was managing trustee from 1982 to 1998 and chairman from 1987 to 1998. During his chairmanship of the Nuffield Foundation, he played a significant role in the establishment by the Foundation of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
in 1991. Since 1998, he is vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
(POST).
Knighted in 1969, he was made a life peer
with the title Baron Flowers, of Queen's Gate in the City of Westminster
on 20 February 1979. In 1961, he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society
and in 1981, an Officer of the French
Légion d'honneur
. He was also a Founding Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(13 September 1924 – 25 June 2010) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
physicist and academican.
Early life and studies
The son of Reverend Harold Joseph Flowers, he was educated at the Bishop Gore SchoolBishop Gore School
The Bishop Gore School is a secondary school in Swansea in south Wales, founded on 14 September 1682 by Hugh Gore , Bishop of Waterford and Lismore...
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
, where he graduated with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
. Flowers was further educated at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, where he gained a Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
degree.
Career
Flowers worked on the Anglo-Canadian Atomic Energy Project Tube AlloysTube Alloys
Tube Alloys was the code-name for the British nuclear weapon directorate during World War II, when the development of nuclear weapons was kept at such a high level of secrecy that it had to be referred to by code even in the highest circles of government...
from 1944 to 1946, he researched in nuclear physics and atomic energy at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell, Oxfordshire, was the main centre for atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1990s.-Founding:...
(AERE) from 1946 to 1950 and was member of the department of mathematical physics at the University of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
from 1950 to 1952. In 1952, he became the head of the theoretical physics division at AERE, holding this post until 1958. At the Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
, Flowers was Professor of theoretical physics from 1958 to 1961, Langworthy Professor
Langworthy Professor
The Langworthy Professor is the holder of an endowed chair at in the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester. It was founded by a bequest of £10,000 for the purpose of endowing a professorship of experimental physics by E. R. Langworthy in 1874...
of physics from 1961 to 1972 as well as chairman of the Science Research Council from 1967 to 1973. At the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, he was rector of Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
from 1973 to 1985 and finally vice-chancellor from 1985 to 1990. Between 1994 and 2001, he was chancellor of the Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
.
Flowers was chair of the Computer Board for Universities and Research Council from 1966 to 1970, member of the Atomic Energy Authority from 1971 to 1981 and president of the Institute of Physics
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
from 1972 to 1974. He was further chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in the United Kingdom was created under Royal Warrant in 1970 to advise the Queen, Government, Parliament and the public on environmental issues...
from 1973 to 1976, president of the European Science Foundation
European Science Foundation
The European Science Foundation is an association of 78 member organisations devoted to scientific research in 30 European countries. It is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation that facilitates cooperation and collaboration in European research and development, European...
from 1974 to 1980 and president of the National Society for Clean Air from 1977 to 1979. Between 1978 and 1981, Flowers was chair of the Commission on Energy and the Environment, between 1979 and 1980, of the University of London Working Party on future of medical and dental teaching resources and between 1983 and 1985, of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals. He was also a member of the council of the Academia Europaea
Academia Europaea
Academia Europæa is a European non-governmental scientific academy founded in 1988. Its members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. It publishes European Review through Cambridge Journals....
from 1988 to 1991, governor of Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
from 1992 to 2001 and chair of the Committee of Enquiry into the Academic Year in 1992 and 1993. For the Royal Postgraduate Medical School
Royal Postgraduate Medical School
The Royal Postgraduate Medical School was an independent medical school, based primarily at Hammersmith Hospital in west London. In 1988, the school merged with the Institute of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and in 1997 became part of the Imperial College School of Medicine.-History:The medical school...
, he was member of the council and vice-chairman from 1990 to 1997. Between 1991 and 1995, Flowers was member of the Management Board of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and between 1994 and 1995, its chairman. For the Nuffield Foundation
Nuffield Foundation
The Nuffield Foundation is a British charitable trust, established in 1943 by William Morris , the founder of the Morris Motor Company. Lord Nuffield wanted to contribute to improvements in society, including the expansion of education and the alleviation of disadvantage...
he was managing trustee from 1982 to 1998 and chairman from 1987 to 1998. During his chairmanship of the Nuffield Foundation, he played a significant role in the establishment by the Foundation of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Nuffield Council on Bioethics
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is a UK-based independent charitable body, which examines and reports on ethical issues raised by new advances in biological and medical research...
in 1991. Since 1998, he is vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, is the Parliament of the United Kingdom's in-house source of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of public policy issues related to science and technology...
(POST).
Knighted in 1969, he was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
with the title Baron Flowers, of Queen's Gate in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
on 20 February 1979. In 1961, he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and in 1981, an Officer of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He was also a Founding Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
Learned Society of Wales
The Learned Society of Wales is a society that exists to “celebrate, recognise, preserve, protect and encourage excellence in all of the scholarly disciplines”.The society was launched on 25 May 2010 at the National Museum of Wales...
.
Personal life
From 1951 until his death he was married to Mary Frances Behrens, and had two stepsons.Works (selected)
- 1970: Properties of Matter. Chichester: Wiley (with Eric Mendoza)
- 1995: An Introduction to Numerical Methods in C++, Oxford: Clarendon Press