Renfrey Potts
| Ren Potts | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 October 1925 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 9 August 2005 (aged 79) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Residence | Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Fields | Mathematician |
| Institutions | The University of Adelaide |
| Alma mater |
The University of Adelaide Oxford University |
| Doctoral advisor | Cyril Domb |
| Doctoral students | Over 20 students, including: David Elliott Robert Hartwig John Tomlin Rodney Vaughan David Sutton |
| Known for |
Potts model Difference equations Robotics |
| Notable awards | ANZIAM Medal (1995) |
Potts model
Ising-type models in mathematical physics
Car-following and traffic flow
Renfrey Burnard (Ren) Potts AO, BSc(Hons) (Adel), D Phil (Oxon), DSc (Oxon), FAA, FTSE, FACS, FAustMS (1925–2005) was an Australian mathematician and is notable for the Potts model and his achievements in: operations research, especially networks; transportation science, car-following and road traffic; Ising-type models in mathematical physics; difference equations; and robotics. He was interested in computing from the early days of the computing revolution and oversaw the first computer purchases at the University of Adelaide.
The fourth child of Gilbert MacDonald Potts and Lorna Potts (née West), named after family friend and medical doctor Renfrey Gershom Burnard, Potts was educated at Rose Park Primary School and Prince Alfred College, where his father was Second Master. Potts was an outstanding lecturer who drew large audiences to his talks. In addition to mathematics, he was interested in sports and music. His sporting activities included long distance and marathon running, hockey, tennis, squash, badminton, bushwalking, and swimming. He played both the piano and the clarinet and was a volunteer disc jockey at a local radio station. He married Barbara Kidman in Oxford on 1 July 1950. They had two daughters, Linda and Rebecca. They also had four grandchildren, Frank, Zoe, Jack and Georgia.
Most-cited publication:
Some others:
(Ren published about 90 research papers)
Ren supervised over 20 PhD students, and 4 MSc students, including:
...
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