Renfrey Potts

Ren Potts
Born 4 October 1925 (1925-10-04)
Adelaide, South Australia
Died 9 August 2005 (2005-08-10) (aged 79)
Adelaide, South Australia
Residence Australia
Nationality Australian
Fields Mathematician
Institutions The University of Adelaide
Alma mater The University of Adelaide
Oxford University
Doctoral advisor Cyril Domb
Doctoral students Over 20 students, including:
David Elliott
Robert Hartwig
John Tomlin
Rodney Vaughan
David Sutton
Known for

Potts model
Ising-type models in mathematical physics
Car-following and traffic flow

Operations research, especially networks
Difference equations
Robotics
Notable awards ANZIAM Medal (1995)

Renfrey Burnard (Ren) Potts AO, BSc(Hons) (Adel), D Phil (Oxon), DSc (Oxon), FAA, FTSE, FACS, FAustMS (1925–2005) was an Australian mathematician and is notable for the Potts model and his achievements in: operations research, especially networks; transportation science, car-following and road traffic; Ising-type models in mathematical physics; difference equations; and robotics. He was interested in computing from the early days of the computing revolution and oversaw the first computer purchases at the University of Adelaide.

Personal

The fourth child of Gilbert MacDonald Potts and Lorna Potts (née West), named after family friend and medical doctor Renfrey Gershom Burnard, Potts was educated at Rose Park Primary School and Prince Alfred College, where his father was Second Master. Potts was an outstanding lecturer who drew large audiences to his talks. In addition to mathematics, he was interested in sports and music. His sporting activities included long distance and marathon running, hockey, tennis, squash, badminton, bushwalking, and swimming. He played both the piano and the clarinet and was a volunteer disc jockey at a local radio station. He married Barbara Kidman[1] in Oxford[2] on 1 July 1950.[3] They had two daughters, Linda and Rebecca. They also had four grandchildren, Frank, Zoe, Jack and Georgia.

Summary

Publications

Most-cited publication:

Some others:
(Ren published about 90 research papers)

Books

Book chapters

Journal articles

Affiliations

Notable students

Ren supervised over 20 PhD students, and 4 MSc students, including:

Awards

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dr Barbara Kidman was a senior lecturer in computer science at the University of Adelaide. After graduating in 1949 with first class Honours in Physics ("the first woman to do so" (Presumably, the first woman at the University of Adelaide.), she devoted 6 years to full-time research at the Oxford University before returning to Adelaide and being awarded a PhD in 1956 ("one of the first two women to achieve this" (Again, presumably, the first at the University of Adelaide.)). Following a 9-year interruption, Dr Kidman returned to work in 1966 in what was then the very new field of computing and completed 20 years of work in this industry before retiring in 1987. Dr Kidman's publications include "Paper tape and punched cards: The early history of computing and computing science at the University of Adelaide", 1999, ISBN 0-646-38632-8 ISBN 978-0-646-38632-4.
  2. 1 2 "Married at Oxford.". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 12 July 1950. p. 10. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. "About People.". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 12 July 1950. p. 10. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  4. List of South Australian Rhodes Scholars
  5. Cyril Domb, Mathematics Genealogy Project
  6. 1 2 It's an Honour, Officer of the Order of Australia, 10 June 1991, Citation: For service to Education, and in particular to Applied Mathematics.
  7. ANZIAM — Australian & New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics
  8. The ANZIAM Medal
  9. Prof Potts' ANZIAM Medal Citation
  10. 1 2 It's an Honour, Centenary Medal, 1 January 2001, Citation: For service to Australian society and science in operations research.
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