Derman Christopherson facts for kids

Sir Derman Guy Christopherson (born September 6, 1915 – died November 7, 2000) was a very smart British engineer and scientist. He spent his life studying and teaching engineering. He was known for his important work in different universities and for leading several colleges.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up and School

Derman Christopherson was born in London. His father was a clergyman. Soon after, his family moved to a place called Porlock in Devon. As a boy, Derman had asthma. He was taught at home until he was 14. Then, he went to Sherborne School.

University Studies

He won a scholarship to University College, Oxford. He first studied Mathematics. In 1937, he earned a top degree in Engineering Science. The next year, he went to Harvard University in the United States. There, he earned a master's degree in 1938.

He then returned to Oxford University. He worked as a research assistant with Sir Richard Southwell. They worked on numerical methods, which are ways to solve math problems using numbers. He helped develop something called the relaxation method. This method helps solve complex math problems. Christopherson was the first to use this method for certain types of equations. He earned his PhD in 1941.

War Service

In 1941, during World War II, Christopherson became a Scientific Officer. He worked for the Ministry of Home Security. His job was to study how explosives affected buildings and shelters. He also looked into firefighting methods. He worked with other scientists to research new helmet designs. He also spent time with Barnes Wallis and his team. Barnes Wallis was famous for inventing the "bouncing bomb."

Academic Career

Most of Christopherson's research happened at the University of Oxford (1937–41), the University of Cambridge (1945–49), and the University of Leeds (1949–55). He did important work on lubrication. Lubrication is about how to make moving parts slide smoothly, like oil in an engine.

He was a lecturer in engineering at Cambridge. Then, in 1949, he became a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. He also became the head of that department. Later, he moved to Imperial College, London. He was a professor there until 1960.

Christopherson then became the Vice-Chancellor (a top leader) of the University of Durham. He held this role from 1960 to 1979. After that, he became the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge (1978–1985). In 1983, he became the second Chairman of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety. This group works to make sure buildings and structures are safe. He served in this role until 1988.

Honours

Christopherson was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1960. This is a very high honour for scientists. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Family Life

Christopherson married Frances Edith Tearle in 1940. They had five children together. Their son, Peter Christopherson (1955-2010), became a musician and video director. Lady Christopherson passed away in 1988.

Death

Sir Derman Christopherson died on November 7, 2000, when he was 85 years old. He was buried with his wife in Cambridge.

Selected Publications

• On being a technologist. London: S.C.M. Press, 1959.
• The University at Work. London: S.C.M. Press, 1973. Published for the University Teachers' Group; ISBN: 0-334-01734-3.