Duncan Dowson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Duncan Dowson
Born	31 August 1928
Died	6 January 2020  (aged 91)
Website	https://engineering.leeds.ac.uk/staff/142/duncan_dowson

Duncan Dowson (born August 31, 1928 – died January 6, 2020) was a brilliant British engineer. He was a professor at the University of Leeds. He taught about how fluids move and how surfaces rub against each other.

Early Life and Education

Duncan Dowson's father, Wilfrid Dowson, was a blacksmith. He made beautiful metal items. Young Duncan often helped his dad with his work.

Duncan went to Lady Lumley's Grammar School in Pickering. After that, he studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. He earned three degrees there: a Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and a Doctor of Science (DSc).

Amazing Academic Career

After finishing his PhD in 1952, Dowson worked as a research engineer. He was at the Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company.

In 1954, he returned to the University of Leeds. He became a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Later, he became a full professor. He taught about how fluids move and a special field called Tribology.

What is Tribology?

Tribology is the science of how surfaces interact when they are in contact. It studies friction, wear, and lubrication. Think about how car parts move or how your joints work. Tribology helps make them last longer and work better.

Dowson was especially famous for his work on something called elastohydrodynamic lubrication. This is about how oil or other fluids can keep moving parts from touching. It's like a tiny, super-strong cushion of fluid. This cushion forms even when parts are under huge pressure.

Awards and Leadership

Because of his important work, Dowson received many awards. In 1974, he got the International Award from the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. He also won the Tribology Gold Medal in 1979. This was from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He also received the Mayo D. Hersey Award.

Dowson was a leader at the University of Leeds. He was the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department from 1987 to 1992. He also directed the Institute of Tribology for many years. From 1983 to 1985, he was a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the university. This is a very senior leadership role.

He retired in 1993 and was given the title of Emeritus Professor. This means he kept his professor title even after retiring. In 1992, he was also the President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

There is even a special award named after him, called the Duncan Dowson prize. In 2016, he gave an important speech called the Higginson Lecture at Durham University.

Special Honours

Dowson received many high honours for his contributions to engineering.

• In 1987, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very big honour for scientists in the UK.
• In 1989, he was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is an award from the British King or Queen.
• In 1982, he became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng).

He also received several honorary degrees. These are special degrees given by universities to people who have achieved great things. He received them from universities around the world:

• DSc - Chalmers University of Technology - 1979
• Docteur - INSA Lyon - 1991
• DSc - University of Liège - 1995
• DEng - University of Waterloo - 2001
• DEng - University of Bradford - 2002
• DEng - University of Leeds - 2003
• DSc - Loughborough University - 2005

Family Life

In 1951, Duncan Dowson married Mabel Strickland. She was from Cropton in North Yorkshire. Mabel had gone to the same school as Duncan. She later became a headmistress at a primary school. They had two sons and one daughter together.

Later Years and Death

Duncan Dowson passed away on January 6, 2020, in Leeds. He was 91 years old. His wife, Mabel, died a few months later on October 11, 2020.

Selected Publications

Duncan Dowson wrote many important books and papers. Here are a few of them:

• Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (1966, 1977)
• History of Tribology (1979, 1998)
• Biomechanics of Joints and Joint Replacements (1981)
• Ball Bearing Lubrication (1981)
• Advances in medical tribology (1998)