Derek Fray facts for kids

Derek John Fray (born 26 December 1939) is a British scientist who studies materials. He is also a professor at the famous University of Cambridge.

Learning and Early Life

Derek Fray went to Emanuel School when he was younger. Later, he studied at Imperial College London. There, he earned two important degrees: a Bachelor of Science and a PhD. A PhD is a very high university degree, showing he did a lot of advanced research.

What He Does: Career and Discoveries

Professor Fray worked at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge for many years. From 1996 to 2014, he was a Professor of Material Chemistry and a Director of Research. This means he led important studies about how different materials are made and behave.

Since 2015, he has been a Distinguished Research Fellow and Emeritus Professor. This title means he is still highly respected and involved in research, even though he might not teach full-time.

The FFC Cambridge Process

One of Professor Fray's biggest achievements is inventing the FFC Cambridge process. He created this process with his co-inventors, Tom Farthing and George Chen. This special method uses electricity to change metal oxides directly into pure metals or metal mixtures (alloys).

This invention is very important for making metals in a cleaner, more efficient way. A company called Metalysis, which started from Cambridge University, now uses this process in real life.

His Work and Inventions

Professor Fray has written over 450 scientific papers. These papers share his research findings with other scientists around the world. He is also listed as an inventor on 350 patents. A patent protects an invention, meaning others can't use it without permission.

Many of his inventions have been used by new companies that started from the university. He helped start these companies, like Metalysis, EMC, Camfridge, Chinuka, and InotecAMD.

Awards and Special Honours

Professor Fray has received many awards for his amazing work.

• In 1981, he was given the Beilby Medal and Prize.
• In 2011, a special meeting (symposium) was held in his honour.
• An award called the Fray International Sustainability Award was created to celebrate his contributions to making things more sustainable. He even received this award himself in 2011.
• He was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 2018. This is a very high honour for engineers.
• In 2008, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is one of the oldest and most respected scientific honours in the world.