A Personal Tribute from Birmingham Colleagues
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A Personal Tribute from Birmingham Colleagues Alvin Nienow is arguably the world’s leading authority on mixing theory. This issue contains yet more papers co- authored by Alvin, to add to an already illustrious publica- tion record in this and other fields. However, Alvin is not just a theorist, and he has shown many times, for example through consultancy, how his deep knowledge and under- standing of mixing can be used to solve difficult industrial problems. For many of us though, it is not Alvin’s scientific achievements that we remember most, but the friendship, guidance and leadership he has shown over many years. It would be hard to enumerate the people whose lives Alvin has touched in this way. With Alvin, the bar has always been a good place for a discussion, whether on work or other matters. The longer- serving biochemical engineers at the University of Birming- ham remember with nostalgia the infamous ’bar committee’ where many plots were hatched and convivial company was enjoyed. It was also in the bar during a conference at the Gleneagles Hotel that Alvin convinced one of the authors (CRT) not to leave the university system for a job in industry, but instead to join the staff at Birmingham. An excellent idea, at least for the first decade! The resulting collaborations were very fruitful, and the friendship long- lasting. For the other author (WB), collaboration with Alvin since November 1983 started through PhD supervision and was followed by a variety of grants in mixing involving a diverse range of research areas such as vegetable seed priming, large scale fermentations, and antibiotic production or non-chlor- ine cleaning of molten aluminium. In an additional personal dimension, Alvin became, we believe, one of not too many PhD supervisors of both father and son! These are of course just simple examples of how Alvin has affected for the better the lives of those around him. Alvin’s research students and other co-workers are to be found everywhere, in academic life and in industry, in the UK and overseas. Some have reached very senior levels in their work, and many would thank Alvin for early training in how to think, and plan, and execute projects. These are of course life-long skills. Although perhaps the effect has been less profound on each individual, the cumulative influence of Alvin on cohort after cohort of undergraduates and masters students has been huge. Some may have even learnt enough about mixing to know that they don’t know very much at all, an especially useful attribute in a field so full of myths and doubtful ideas. A valediction like this would not be complete without mentioning cricket. Alvin is of course a member of MCC, and his cricketing skills have graced many a staff-student cricket match. Sadly, even Alvin’s proficiency was not usually enough for the staff to win (at least until research students were reclassified as staff for the day). Alvin’s passion for traditional jazz encouraged many of us to get familiar with the Waterworks Club in Birmingham to relax and socialize through dancing and drinking bitter (Alvin’s favourite drink) replacing red wine on those occasions. There is no doubt that Alvin is held in wide and high regard. With his retirement, the University is losing one of its best minds, and for many, a good friend and mentor. Although we are sad he is leaving, we all wish Alvin a long and enjoyable retirement. He will certainly not be forgotten. Professor Colin Thomas Dr Waldemar Bujalski The University of Birmingham, UK (Alvin’s colleagues and former students) A picture from 1993 of the ‘Mixing Group’ at the University of Birmingham showing Alvin’s collaborators from Japan, Latvia, Poland, Mexico, Germany Trans IChemE, Part A, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 2004, 82(A9): 1071–1072 1072 EDITORIAL
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Transcript of A Personal Tribute from Birmingham Colleagues
A Personal Tribute from Birmingham Colleagues
Alvin Nienow is arguably the world’s leading authority onmixing theory. This issue contains yet more papers co-authored by Alvin, to add to an already illustrious publica-tion record in this and other fields. However, Alvin is notjust a theorist, and he has shown many times, for examplethrough consultancy, how his deep knowledge and under-standing of mixing can be used to solve difficult industrialproblems. For many of us though, it is not Alvin’s scientificachievements that we remember most, but the friendship,guidance and leadership he has shown over many years. Itwould be hard to enumerate the people whose lives Alvinhas touched in this way.
With Alvin, the bar has always been a good place for adiscussion, whether on work or other matters. The longer-serving biochemical engineers at the University of Birming-ham remember with nostalgia the infamous ’bar committee’where many plots were hatched and convivial company wasenjoyed. It was also in the bar during a conference at theGleneagles Hotel that Alvin convinced one of the authors(CRT) not to leave the university system for a job inindustry, but instead to join the staff at Birmingham. Anexcellent idea, at least for the first decade! The resultingcollaborations were very fruitful, and the friendship long-lasting.
For the other author (WB), collaboration with Alvin sinceNovember 1983 started through PhD supervision and wasfollowed by a variety of grants in mixing involving a diverserange of research areas such as vegetable seed priming, largescale fermentations, and antibiotic production or non-chlor-ine cleaning of molten aluminium. In an additional personaldimension, Alvin became, we believe, one of not too manyPhD supervisors of both father and son!
These are of course just simple examples of how Alvinhas affected for the better the lives of those around him.
Alvin’s research students and other co-workers are to befound everywhere, in academic life and in industry, in theUK and overseas. Some have reached very senior levels intheir work, and many would thank Alvin for early training inhow to think, and plan, and execute projects. These are ofcourse life-long skills.
Although perhaps the effect has been less profound oneach individual, the cumulative influence of Alvin on cohortafter cohort of undergraduates and masters students hasbeen huge. Some may have even learnt enough aboutmixing to know that they don’t know very much at all, anespecially useful attribute in a field so full of myths anddoubtful ideas.
A valediction like this would not be complete withoutmentioning cricket. Alvin is of course a member of MCC,and his cricketing skills have graced many a staff-studentcricket match. Sadly, even Alvin’s proficiency was notusually enough for the staff to win (at least until researchstudents were reclassified as staff for the day). Alvin’spassion for traditional jazz encouraged many of us to getfamiliar with the Waterworks Club in Birmingham to relaxand socialize through dancing and drinking bitter (Alvin’sfavourite drink) replacing red wine on those occasions.
There is no doubt that Alvin is held in wide and highregard. With his retirement, the University is losing one ofits best minds, and for many, a good friend and mentor.Although we are sad he is leaving, we all wish Alvin a longand enjoyable retirement. He will certainly not be forgotten.
Professor Colin ThomasDr Waldemar Bujalski
The University of Birmingham, UK(Alvin’s colleagues and former students)
A picture from 1993 of the ‘Mixing Group’ at the University of Birmingham showing Alvin’s collaborators from Japan, Latvia, Poland, Mexico, Germany
Trans IChemE, Part A, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 2004, 82(A9): 1071–1072
1072 EDITORIAL
