Overview
After graduating (1965) in Mathematics at Cambridge I continued in their Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, where I obtained my PhD (1969). I then spent two years in the USA on Post Doctoral positions: the first year at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University; the second at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Subsequently, I was appointed Lecturer (1971) at Newcastle University, where I became Reader (1981) and later Professor of Fluid Dynamics (1986). During my time there I spent one further year in N. America (1977/8) undertaking research and teaching at UCLA. I was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (1991). After leaving Newcastle, I was appointed Professor of Applied Mathematics (1996) at the University of Exeter and subsequently retired to become Emeritus Professor (2009), but re-employed (2013/4). I am now Strategic Research Adviser (2011-2023) in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics at Newcastle University.
Research Interests
My main areas of research are exemplified by the titles in my "Publications". I am particularly interested in the application of asymptotic methods to problems that arise in Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics. Planetary and Stellar dynamos have provided the motivation for many of my theoretical studies. Recently I have focused on boundary layers in rotating MHD flows, undertaken investigations of stability problems involving spatial modulation, developed theoretical aspects of the hybrid Euler-Lagrange approach to mean-field problems and currently working on inertial waves in rotating flows. Much of this work was undertaken with Research Assistants and Research Students, but my current collaborations, as Emeritus Professor, are confined to colleagues.
Teaching Interests
During my time at Exeter University I have taught the following courses: Methods for Differential Equations (yr. 2), Viscous Flow (yr. 3), Electromagnetism (yr. 3), Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (yr. 4), Magnetohydrodynamics (yr. 4).
Other Relevant Information
I have been the Editor of the "Journal of Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics" since 1991. I was Editor of the linked book series entitled "The Fluid Mechanics of Astrophysics and Geophysics" between 1994 and 2010. I am a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), as well as the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA).
Qualifications : BA (1965), PhD (1969), ScD (1984) Cantab.
