MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 2

MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR

CANTERBURY COLLEGE CHAIR APPOINTMENT OF MR D. F. LAWDEN Tlie new professor of mathematics at Canterbury University College will be Mr D. F. Lawden. senior lecturer in mathematics at the Brimingham College of Technology. He has an outstanding record as a graduate of Cambridge University, as an officer in the Army, as a' lecturer in the Military College of Science, and as a research specialist in rocket ballisticsBorn in Birmingham, where he has taught for the last four years, Mr Lawden entered St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge, in 1937, and, although his studies were interrupted by war service from 1939 to 1946, he took a master of arts degree with first-class honours in the mathematics tripos. Volunteering on the outbreak of war, Mr Lawden was commissioned in 1940 as an instructor in the artillery survey in Britain. From 1942 till 1944, he was in charge of radar operations for the sea defence network at Gibraltar. From the end of 1944 until his discharge from the forces, Mr Lawden was seconded to the Military College of Science as lecturer on fire control computing instruments. On completing his degree at Cambridge, he returned to this college from 1948 to 1951 as senior lecturer in mathematics. Rocket ballistics research has been undertaken by Mr Lawden for the

last four years. Military applications have been developed in consultation with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. This interest in the operation of rockets in the upper atmosphere led Mr Lawden to study space {ravel, and he is now a member of the council of the British Inter-planetary Society. Mr Lawden is 36. He is married, and has twin sons aged 14.