Alec Broers, Baron Broers
Encyclopedia
Alec Nigel Broers, Baron Broers, (born 17 September 1938) is an Anglo-Australian electrical engineer
.
Broers was born in Calcutta, India
and educated at Geelong Grammar School
and Melbourne University in Australia
, and then University of Cambridge
(Gonville and Caius College) in England
.
He then worked in the research and development laboratories of IBM in the United States
for 19 years before returning to Cambridge
in 1984 to become Professor of Electrical Engineering (1984–96) and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
(1985–90). He is a pioneer of nanotechnology
.
Broers subsequently became Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
(1990–96) and Head of the Cambridge University Engineering Department (1993–96). He was Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, 1996–2003, knighted
in 1998 and created a life peer
in 2004, as Baron Broers, of Cambridge in the County of Cambridgeshire. Lord Broers is Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee
of the House of Lords
and was President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
from 2001 to 2006.
In September 2008, Lord Broers took over from Sir David Cooksey
as chairman of the board of directors
at the Diamond Light Source
, the United Kingdom
's largest new scientific facility for 30 years.
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
.
Broers was born in Calcutta, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and educated at Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
and Melbourne University in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and then University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
(Gonville and Caius College) in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He then worked in the research and development laboratories of IBM in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for 19 years before returning to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
in 1984 to become Professor of Electrical Engineering (1984–96) and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
(1985–90). He is a pioneer of nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
.
Broers subsequently became Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
(1990–96) and Head of the Cambridge University Engineering Department (1993–96). He was Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, 1996–2003, knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1998 and created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 2004, as Baron Broers, of Cambridge in the County of Cambridgeshire. Lord Broers is Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee
Science and Technology Committee (House of Lords)
The Science and Technology Committee is a select committee of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It has a broad remit "to consider science and technology".-Membership:As of 27 October, the members of the committee are as follows:...
of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and was President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
from 2001 to 2006.
In September 2008, Lord Broers took over from Sir David Cooksey
David Cooksey
Sir David James Scott Cooksey, GBE is a British businessman, venture capitalist and politician.David Cooksey gained a degree in metallurgy at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford...
as chairman of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
at the Diamond Light Source
Diamond Light Source
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Its purpose is to produce intense beams of light whose special characteristics are useful in many areas of scientific research...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest new scientific facility for 30 years.
Summary of important events of Lord Broers
- 1938 Born 17 September in Calcutta, educated at Geelong Grammar SchoolGeelong Grammar SchoolGeelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... - 1959 BScBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in physics from Melbourne University, Australia - 1962 MScMaster of ScienceA Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in electrical sciences from the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, after arriving initially as a choral scholarChoral scholarA choral scholar is a student either at a university or private school who receives a scholarship in exchange for singing in the school or university's choir... - 1965 PhDDoctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree at University of Cambridge - 1965 Researcher at IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
USA, and serving on the Corporate Technical Committee - 1977 Appointed to IBM FellowIBM FellowAn IBM Fellow is an appointed position at IBM made by IBM’s CEO. Typically only 4 to 9 IBM Fellows are appointed each year, at the annual Corporate Technical Recognition Event in May or June. It is the highest honor a scientist, engineer, or programmer at IBM can achieve.The IBM Fellows program...
by IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
’s CEO. - 1984 Returns to the University of Cambridge as Professor of Electrical Engineering
- 1990 Master of Churchill CollegeChurchill College, CambridgeChurchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
- 1992 Head of Cambridge University Engineering DepartmentCambridge University Engineering DepartmentThe Cambridge University Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge is one of the largest departments in the university. The main site is situated at Trumpington Street, to the south of Cambridge city centre. The department is the primary centre for engineering teaching and research...
- 1996 Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge (until 2003)
- 1998 KnightedKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
for services to education - 1998 Founded the Cambridge NetworkCambridge NetworkThe Cambridge Network is a commercial business networking organisation for business people and academics working in technology fields in the Cambridge area of the UK...
- 2000 Awarded Honorary DUniv degree by the Anglia Ruskin UniversityAnglia Ruskin UniversityAnglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
- 2001 President of The Royal Academy of EngineeringRoyal Academy of Engineering-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
- 2004 Granted a Life Peerage (became Lord Broers)
- 2004 Becomes Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
- 2005 Broers presents the Reith Lectures for the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- 2007 Awarded Honorary DEngDoctor of EngineeringThe Doctor of Engineering is an academic degree awarded on the basis of advanced study and research in engineering or applied sciences...
degree by the University of SheffieldUniversity of SheffieldThe University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities... - 2008 Becomes Chairman of Diamond Light Source Ltd.
External sources
- The Reith lectures, 2005 were given by Lord Broers
- Interview with Lord Broers, Ingenia Magazine, March 2005
- Profile of Lord Broers
- Lord Broers on the triumph of technology, March 2005