Renfrey Potts
Encyclopedia
Professor Renfrey Burnard (Ren) Potts AO
, (1925–2005), BSc(Hons) (Adel), D Phil (Oxon), DSc (Oxon), FAA, FTSE, FACS, FAustMS, 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
.
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 in Oxford on 1 July 1950. They had two daughters, Linda and Rebecca. They also had four grandchildren, Frank, Zoe, Jack and Georgia.
Some others:
(Ren published about 90 research papers)
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, (1925–2005), BSc(Hons) (Adel), D Phil (Oxon), DSc (Oxon), FAA, FTSE, FACS, FAustMS, was an Australian mathematician and is notable for the Potts model
Potts model
In statistical mechanics, the Potts model, a generalization of the Ising model, is a model of interacting spins on a crystalline lattice. By studying the Potts model, one may gain insight into the behaviour of ferromagnets and certain other phenomena of solid state physics...
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
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
.
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 SchoolRose Park Primary School
Rose Park Primary School is a coeducational R–7 school located in the Adelaide inner suburb of Rose Park. The school is located at 54 Alexandra Avenue and occupies the land between Alexandra and Grant Avenues...
and Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
, 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 in Oxford on 1 July 1950. They had two daughters, Linda and Rebecca. They also had four grandchildren, Frank, Zoe, Jack and Georgia.
Summary
- 1925 Born: 4 October 1925 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- 1930–1936 Rose Park Primary SchoolRose Park Primary SchoolRose Park Primary School is a coeducational R–7 school located in the Adelaide inner suburb of Rose Park. The school is located at 54 Alexandra Avenue and occupies the land between Alexandra and Grant Avenues...
- 1937–1942 Prince Alfred CollegePrince Alfred CollegePrince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
- 1943–1947 University of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideThe University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
Bachelor of Science (First class honours in mathematics) - 1948 Rhodes Scholar, Queen's College, Oxford
- 1949 Barbara Kidman graduated with first class Honours in Physics
- 1949–1951 D Phil, (Oxford), Dissertation: The Mathematical Investigation of Some Cooperative Phenomena, Advisor: Cyril DombCyril DombCyril Domb is a physicist best known for his lecturing and writing on the theory of phase transitions and critical phenomena of fluids. He is also known in the Orthodox Jewish world for his writings on Science and Judaism...
- 1950 Married Barbara Kidman in Oxford on 1 July 1950
- 1951–1957 Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Adelaide
- 1955–1956 Postdoctoral Scientist at the University of Maryland, USA
- 1956 Barbara Kidman awarded a PhD
- 1957–1959 Associate Professor at the University of Toronto in Canada
- 1958–1959 Consultant to General Motors in Detroit
- 1959 Awarded the Lanchester PrizeFrederick W. Lanchester PrizeThe Frederick W. Lanchester Prize is an Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences prize given for the best contribution to operations research and the management sciences published in English. It is named after Frederick W. Lanchester.-Past winners:* 1954 Leslie C. Edie* 1955...
for research in operations research - 1959 Appointed to a newly created chair in applied mathematics at the University of Adelaide
- 1959–1990 Professor, Chair and popular lecturer of applied mathematicsApplied mathematicsApplied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
at the University of Adelaide - 1966 Dr Kidman returns to workforce as lecturer in the (then) new area of Computer Science
- 1968 Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Oxford
- 1975 Fellow of the Australian Academy of ScienceAustralian Academy of ScienceThe Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
(FAA) - Foundation President of the South Australian Computer Society (the forerunner of the Australian Computer SocietyAustralian Computer SocietyThe Australian Computer Society is an association for information and communications technology professionals. According to its Constitution, its objects are "to advance professional excellence in information technology" and "to promote the development of Australian information and communications...
). He is recognised as the founder of the Australian Computer Society, and was elected a Fellow of that society (FACS). - 1978–9 Chairman, Division of Applied Mathematics of the Australian Mathematical SocietyAustralian Mathematical SocietyThe Australian Mathematical Society was founded in 1956 and is the national society of the mathematics profession in Australia. One of the Society's listed purposes is to promote the cause of mathematics in the community by representing the interests of the profession to government. The Society...
(the progenitor of ANZIAM) - 1983 Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
- 1987 Dr Kidman retires
- 1990 Prof Potts retires
- 1991 Emeritus Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Adelaide
- 1991 Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO) - 1991–1993 After his retirement from Adelaide, he taught as a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore for three semesters.
- 1994 Fellow of the Australian Mathematical Society (FAustMS)
- 1995 Inaugural recipient of the ANZAAS (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science) Medal
- 1995 Awarded first ANZIAM Medal
- 2001 Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
received from the Australian Government - 2004 Inducted to the Pearcey Hall of Fame (The Pearcey Foundation)
- 2005 Died: 9 August 2005 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Publications
Most-cited publication:- Renfrey B. Potts, (1952); Some Generalized Order-Disorder Transformations, Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol. 48, pp. 106−109
Some others:
(Ren published about 90 research papers)
Books
- With Robert Oliver, "Flows in Transportation Networks"
- 1978 Potts, R. B., "Transport in Australia: Some Key Issues", Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 1978, 159 pp. ISBN/ISSN: 0 85847 048 9
Book chapters
- 1990 Potts, R. B., "Wilton, John Raymond (1884–1944), Mathematician", in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 12, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1990, pp. 533–534. (Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120599b.htm)
Journal articles
- 1959 Harold Willis Milnes, Renfrey B. Potts: Boundary Contraction Solution of Laplace's Differential Equation. J. ACM 6(2): 226–235 (1959) Article
- 1959 Robert Herman, Elliott W. Montroll, Renfrey B. Potts, and Richard W. Rohtery, "Traffic Dynamics: Analysis of Stability in Car Following," Operations Research 7, pp. 86–106 (January–February 1959)
- 1959 Denos C. Gazis, Robert Herman, and Renfrey B. Potts, "Car-Following Theory of Steady-State Traffic Flow," Operations Research 7, pp. 499–505 (July–August 1959).
- 1962 The Measurement of Acceleration Noise—A Traffic Parameter, Trevor R. Jones, Renfrey B. Potts, Operations Research, Vol. 10, No. 6 (Nov. – Dec., 1962), pp. 745–763 Abstract
- 1982 Differential and Difference Equations, Renfrey B. Potts, The American Mathematical Monthly, Vol. 89, No. 6 (Jun. – Jul., 1982), pp. 402–407 doi:10.2307/2321656 Abstract
- 1985 Potts, R. B., "Mathematics at the University of Adelaide, Part 3: 1944–1958", Australian Mathematical Society Gazette, vol. 12, no. 2, 1985, pp. 25–30.
- 1988 Tamar Flash, Renfrey B. Potts: Discrete trajectory planning. October 1988, International Journal of Robotics Research, Volume 7 Issue 5 ACM PortalAbstract
- 2004 Wall, G.E., Pitman, Jane and Potts, R.B., "Eric Stephen Barnes, 1924–2000", Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 15, no. 1, 2004, pp. 21–45. (Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR03013.htm and http://www.science.org.au/academy/memoirs/barnes.htm)
Affiliations
- 1959 General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michigan
- 1960s–1980s P.G. Pak-Poy & Associates, Adelaide
- 1988 Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
Notable students
Ren supervised over 20 PhD students, and 4 MSc students, including:- 1966 Robert E. Hartwig Dissertation: Toeplitz Determinants and Their Applications
- 1968 John Anthony Tomlin Dissertation: Mathematical Programming Models for Traffic Network Problems
Awards
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 1991
-
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Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
2001
See also
- Mathematics Genealogy Project
- Bright Spacs Biography entry
- Portrait — date unknown, St Andrews
- Portrait — date unknown, St Andrews
- Biography, St Andrews
- Obituary, Australian Mathematics Trust
- Obituary, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- "Obituaries", Australian Academy of Science Newsletter, vol. 63, August–November, 2005, pp. 10–11.
- E O Tuck, Obituary — Professor Renfrey Burnard Potts, The Adelaidean (October 2005).
- E O Tuck, Obituary : Renfrey B. Potts, 4/10/1925–9/8/2005, Austral. Math. Soc. Gaz. 32 (4) (2005), 291–292.
- E O Tuck, Retirement of Professor R. B. Potts, AO, Austral. Math. Soc. Gaz. 18 (4) (1991), 111–112.
- 2003 photo of Dr Barbara Kidman and Emeritus Professor Ren Potts, Adelaidean, Volume 12 Number 7 August 2003, pg14