In Memoriam: Duncan Dowson (1928–2020)

Abstract

It is with great regret that we have to inform the readers of our Journal that Professor Duncan Dowson, the Honorary Editor of our Journal, has passed away at age 91 (6 January 2020). He had not been feeling well in the last few years and his condition was worsened after a fall. He died in hospital on 6th January 2020. This is a great loss to all of us, particularly in the biotribology community and we will remember him as one of the greatest biotribologists of our time.

Professor Duncan Dowson was born on 31st August 1928 in Yorkshire, UK. He studied an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds from 1947 to 1950. He continued his postgraduate study at the same institution and obtained a PhD for his thesis on ‘Cavitation in Lubricating Films Supporting Small Loads’ in 1952. He became a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in 1954, a Senior Lecturer in 1963, a Reader in 1965 and a Professor of Engineering Fluid Mechanics and Tribology in 1966: the world's first holder of a Chair of Tribology. He remained active in research as an Emeritus Professor at the University of Leeds after his retirement on 30th September 1993.

Professor Dowson has made a remarkably distinguished contribution to the scientific study and engineering application in the area of Tribology. One of his particular contributions in this field is in Biotribology, a subject that he introduced in 1970 to cover aspects of tribology concerned with biological systems [[1]]. He was particularly supportive of the research developments in this field. He kindly wrote the Foreword for the ‘Dental Biotribology’ authored by the Editor in 2013 [[2]].

According to our own accounts, of a total of 616 of his scientific publications, approximately half (301) were dedicated to the area of Biotribology. He published his first paper in Biotribology [[4]] and organised the first Symposium (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK) [[5]] on the topic of human synovial joints and artificial replacements in 1966, a study that has inspired so many researchers (including two Associated Editors of our Journal) and remained actively investigated till the present time. From the very beginning, he recognised the importance of clinical and medical inputs into this area and had established close collaborations with clinicians including the late Professor Verna Wright, the late Sir John Charnley, Professor Mike Wroblewski etc. Together with many of his postgraduate students and colleagues, he investigated a number of interesting clinical problems, such as joint stiffness, walking activities, and also a cracking joint that has received significant attention recently [[6]]. His publications on both biomechanics and biotribology of synovial joints and replacements included the hip, the knee, the elbow, the shoulder, the ankle and the finger as well as other interesting topics such as heart values, the fat pat, menisci, football boots etc. Many of us know his work on the theoretical and computational analyses of fluid film lubrication, but he also carried out many experimental studies, particularly in the area of the lubrication of articular cartilage and synovial fluid in synovial joints and the wear of the bearing surfaces of artificial replacements. The importance of joint simulators was recognised in his early studies with the design of joint simulators which are now widely and routinely used for pre-clinical testing of artificial joint replacements.

Duncan Dowson's contribution in Tribology and Biotribology has also been recognised through professional and academic distinctions. He has received many Honorary Doctorates from UK and around the world including Sweden, France, Belgium, Canada etc. He served as the President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK in 1992–3 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1982 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1987. He received the Order of the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989. In addition, he received many distinguished awards and medals, including the highest in Tribology, the Tribology Gold Medal in 1979.

Professor Dowson was closely associated with and very supportive of our Journal. The subject of Biotribology he introduced in 1970 is now one of the main scopes of our Journal. He met with the Editor (ZRZ) and one of the Associated Editors (ZMJ) of the Journal in Leeds in 2008 (Fig. 1) and had useful discussions about the establishment of our Journal. He kindly agreed to serve as the Honorary Editor and wrote the Preface in the first issue of our Journal in March 2015 (6). In the Preface, he highlighted the importance of this subject:

Professor Dowson was kind and gentle, and always smiled. Those of us who have studied under his supervision, worked with him or simply talked to him will remember his immense knowledge and valuable advices provided to us all.