Date of Birth

11 March 1933

Died

19th July 2022

Birthplace

Timaru

Emeritus Professor (Manchester) - Geophysics

Career

John W. Elder, an internationally renowned scientist - applied mathematician and fluid dynamist - is known for his studies of the dynamic role of the interior heat of the earth. His career covered four spheres of research: Fluid Mechanics; Hydrothermal; Hot Earth; and Geological.

His 1967 study “Transient Convection in a Porous Medium” presented an enigmatic problem unsolved for 50 years, and known in the scientific community as “The Elder Problem” a benchmark used to this day in Fluid Mechanics.

Education

• Timaru Main School 1938-45 (Dux 1945)
• Timaru Boys’ High School 1946-50 (Dux 1950)
• Canterbury University College 1951-55: BSc, & MSc Maths & Physics
• Cambridge University, UK. - Kings College
  • 1956-58 Post Grad - Physics (Cavendish Laboratory)
  • 1958-59 PhD – Geophysics

Professional Life

John’s academic career from 1959 until his retirement in 1989 comprised scientific research, lecturing, keynote speaking, and consulting in many countries including: Japan, USA, Iraq, Italy, Turkey, Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia.

Brief Highlights

1959 - DSIR, Wellington, - Wairakei geothermal project studies.

1961 - Professor of Physics, Mosul, Iraq.

1961-62 - Geothermal consultancy - Japan, and Italy.

1962-63 - Dynamical Oceanography research - Cambridge University, UK.

1963-65 - University of California, San Diego, and Scripps Institute, San Diego.

1967-70 - Project Director - Computer Aided Teaching of Applied Maths - Cambridge University.

1968 - Visiting Lecturer - Ankara, Turkey.

1968 - Awarded NZ Royal Society Geophysics Prize for work on Hydrothermal Systems.

1969 - Senior Research Fellow - Churchill College, Cambridge.

1970-84 - Inaugural Professor of Geophysics, University of Manchester, UK.

1971-1975 - Greenland Geological Survey - summer & winter expeditions.

1982-83 - Consultant - MWD, Christchurch, Alpine Processes Programme.

1984 - Awarded Professor Emeritus - University of Manchester, UK.

1984 - Manager - Physical Water Resources, MWD, NZ.

1988-89 - Guest Professor, Zurich, Switzerland.

50 Publications: Notably:

‘The Bowels of the Earth’ - 1976 - Oxford University Press.

‘Geothermal Systems’ - 1981 - Academic Press, London.

‘Transient Convection in a Porous Medium’ - 1967 - Journal Of Fluid Mechanics.

‘The Structure of the Planets’ - 1987 - Academic Press, London.

‘The Elder Problem’ - 2017 - Groundwater Journal - John W. Elder & Craig T. Simmons.

‘Benchmark’ - 2017 - Fluids Journal - John W. Elder & Craig T. Simmons.

Interests

Art/painting, Languages, Astronomy, Astrophotography (John photographed the entire celestial sphere), Classical Music, Teaching, Traveling, Writing, Tramping, Ski-ing (European grade 5), Ballroom dancing, Reading, Teaching ESOL, Conversation.

Insight

John was a humble person, never seeking honours for himself, nor setting himself above others. He would readily acknowledge that no scientist works in a vacuum - each is adding knowledge little by little to the work and insights, not only of their current team, but more especially of the generations of scientists who have gone before. To quote Sir Isaac Newton: "If I have seen further .... it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants."

John had intense curiosity (essential in a scientist) and the bravery to ask the crazy questions, the "what it's"; to venture down new paths despite the possibility of finding only a blind alley; to persevere again and yet again, not only being prepared to risk failure but to learn from it. Always to take the next best step for eventually you may chance to find some unexpected and exciting possibility which may change the world.

Last updated: 06 Nov 2024