Duncan Dowson
Duncan Dowson (31 August 1928 – 6 January 2020) was a British engineer and Professor of Engineering Fluid Mechanics and Tribology at the University of Leeds. Biography. Dowson's father, Wilfrid Dowson, was an ornamental blacksmith, and as a child his son helped him in his work. Dowson himself was educated at Lady Lumley's Grammar School and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Leeds, from which he held the degrees of BSc, PhD and DSc. Academic career. After completing his PhD in 1952, Dowson worked as a Research Engineer at Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company . He returned to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Leeds as a Lecturer in 1954, ultimately becoming Professor of Engineering Fluid Mechanics and Tribology there. He was best known for his work on elastohydrodynamic lubrication. In 1974, he received the International Award from the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. In 1979, he was awarded the Tribology Gold Medal by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Mayo D. Hersey Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Dowson was Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Leeds from 1987 to 1992 and director of the Institute of Tribology  there from 1967 to 1986. He was also Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Leeds from 1983 to 1985. He retired in 1993 with the title Emeritus Professor. Dowson was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1992. The Duncan Dowson prize is named in his honour. In 2016, he presented the Higginson Lecture in Durham University. Honours. Dowson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1987. He was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989. He was elected a Fellow for the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 1982 . Dowson received the following honorary degrees: