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

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