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DUNCAN S
.
1921-1987
DAVIES
WRITTEN BY ANTHONY CHALLIS
SUBMITTED BY THE NAE HOME SECRETARY
DUNCAN S DAVIES a polymath who was interested and knowl-
eclgeable in all aspects of human affairs, died March 25, l9X7, at
age sixty-five. He was a scientist of excellence in both the pure
and applied fields, an engineer, and one of the founders of the
science of technological economics. Above all he was a man of
vision, of ideas, of concepts, but also of warmth and humanity.
He truly loved his fellow men and women, and he always did us
the honor of behaving as though we were as intelligent, as
hardworking, as conscientious, and as well motivated as he was
himself.
Born in Liverpool on April 20, 1921, Davies valued his origins
in that city, but Oxford and his contact there with Cyril Hinschel-
wood formed him. He received his B.Sc. in chemistry (Minor
Scholar), 1st CIass-Honours, in 1943 from Oxford University; his
Ph.D. from that university in 1945; and his M.A. in chemistry
from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1947. At Oxford he gained
an understanding of physical chemistry as a description of
dynamic systems that served him well in his lifetime attempts to
understand, explain, and influence human systems. Although
his ability to organize and convince was much recognized, his
major role was his ability to influence and persuade "men of
action" in both industry and government into fresh channels.
In 1945 he began work in the Research Department of the
Dyestuffs Division of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), the
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
United Kingdom's largest chemical firm; he remained with that
firm for thirty-five years. In 1955 he was appointed head of the
Colours Experimental Department, Grangemouty Works; in
1959 to research manager and then research director of ICI Gen-
eral Chemicals Division; in 1962 to director of ICI Central Petro-
chemical and Polymer Laboratory; in 1967 to deputy chairman
of Monct Division, a heavy chemicals division of ICI; and in 1969
to general manager of research and clevelopment at ICI, respon-
sible for formulation of research and development policy and its
connection with long-term business policy internationally.
At ICI Davies was originally concerned with the application of
chemistry to the improvement of products and processes, and
the design of innovation in the chemical and polymer industries,
including first manufacture of polymer (f~ber)-reactive dyes. He
was subsequently responsible for research and development
direction covering all parts of the chemical industry. Perhaps his
most important innovation at ICI was his major role in the
creation of the Petrochemicals and Polymers Laboratory, of
which he was the first director. Davies had an international
reputation in providing new concepts and means for making
industrial research useful, particularly as it becomes more mul-
ticlisciplinary and must be economically viable.
Because he had become especially active in the integration of
technology, economics, and social studies relevant to the success
and acceptability of innovations in the United Kingdom, Davies
was appointed in 1977 chief engineer and scientist at the U.K's
Department of Trade and Industry. There he was responsible for
recommending technology policy to the U.K Secretary of State
for Industry, determining government needs for industrial re-
search and development, and placing appropriate contracts
with state or private sector agencies.
While becoming in 1982 a director and then in 1983 chairman
of the British Ceramics Research Ltd., Davies also took on
consulting responsibilities for Unilever, Tate & Lyle, Monsanto,
and in Washington, D.C., the National Bureau of Stanciards.
Davies's accomplishments span the science, development,
engineering, and manufacture of synthetic polymeric materials,
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\
DUNCAN S. DAVIES
71
which constitute one of the most important groups of modern
industrial engineering materials and revolutionized the plastics,
synthetic fibers, textiles, and protective coating industries. His
technical and engineering contributions have had significant
effects upon industries other than those in which he was directly
concerned. The dyestuff, mining, ceramic, and metallurgical
industries owe much to him. Above all he was an outstanding
innovator. In ICI he pioneered the effective direct use of labora-
tory-type science on the plant.
He served as president of the Council of the Society of
Chemical Industry and of the R&D Society. He served on the
Science Research Council (SRC) and its successor, the Science
and Engineering Research Council, and also the Social Science
Research Council Joint Committee. These bodies are a major
source of research funds for British universities. He also served
on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Develop-
ment ad hoc Working Group on Technology Transfer. He was a
member of the U.K Chemical Society, Faraday Division; the
Council of Liverpool University; the Confederation of British
Industry, Research and Technology Committee; U.K. Advisory
Board for Research Councils; Advisory Council on Applied
R&D, Natural Environment Research Council; Swann Manpow-
er Working Group; Council, Liverpool University; and Council,
The Organization of the European Community, London. He
was a visiting professor at Imperial College (1968-1970) and
University of York (1983-1987~; a visiting fellow, St. Cross Col-
lege, Oxford (1970); visiting fellow, Australian National Univer-
sity; and visiting professorial fellow, University College, Swansea
(197~1979).
In 1967 Davies received the Society of Chemical Industry
Castner Medal. He was awardecl an honorary doctorate from the
University of Stirling, 1975, and the University of Surrey, 1980.
He received an honorary doctor of science from Bath Univeristy,
1981, anti Haifa University, 1982. Davies was elected a foreign
associate of the National Academy of Engineering in 1978.
Davies was a writer of great clarity. "If you want to understand
something," he said, "then write a book about it." He wrote
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
visiting fellow
72
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
several, including An Introduction to Technolog~calEconomics, with
Callum McCarthy, where he takes the reader by the hand and
walks with him into the development of the subject.
He was a superb communicator, both as a speaker and a
writer witty, erudite, compelling, with apposite quotations from
sources as widely apart as Winnie the Pooh and Wagner's Ring. He
delighted in travel. A key memory is of him ensconced in corners
of obscure airports writingyet another chapter or another article
under his many noms de plume in a neat rapid hand with
scarcely a correction, or clashing off clozens of strange and funny
postcards to his worldwide circle of friends.
He lover! his family; they provided that firm en cl secure base
from which he forayed to do battle on many fronts. He loved the
young, and they loved him for he shared with them his bubbling
enthusiasms, his vulnerability, and a sharp detestation of injus-
tice of any form.
The Research Society has instituted a Duncan Davies Memo-
rial Lecture and Medal. The first of these was given at the Royal
Society on April 3, 1990, by one of his many friends and clisciples
from ICI, Robert Malpas, then chairman of PowerGen, a privat-
ized half of the oicI Central Electricity Generating Board. His
lecture title was the "Marketing of Technology." Duncan would
have loved it, but proposed yet another new approach, if not
three! The medal was presented by Mrs. Ann Davies. All of us
present had the sense of affection, loss, and respect.
Duncan Davies never retired, and he was always seeking
change. He wrote, he consulted, he lectured, he traveled, he
served his profession. The luster of Duncan shines brighter with
time. I would commend to you his book TheHumane Technologist.
He was, above all, the humane technologist himself. His major
ideas. seeming outrageous at the time. are now an integral part
, A,
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