Professor honoured for achievements
Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:51:00 GMT
International Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium recognises its pioneer
UNIVERSITY of Huddersfield’s Professor Ted Charsley has been honoured for his work in organising global events bringing together experts to discuss research and vital issues in the field of heat flow calorimetry.
This is a very sensitive technique which enables a chemical, physical or biological process to be followed directly by measuring the heat generated or adsorbed. It has a wide range of applications including materials compatibility, storage stability and hazard evaluation.
Professor Charsley headed the Centre for Thermal Studies – now part of the University’s IPOS research group – which located to the University in 1997. That was the year in which he co-organised the first International Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium on Energetic Materials. Taking place in Leeds, it attracted 60 delegates from 15 countries and was the first of a regular series, held at approximately two-year intervals, which has taken place ever since.
The origin of the Symposium can be traced to the early 1990s, said Professor Charsley.
“It arose out of a technical collaboration programme in 1993 between Australia, Canada, UK, and USA which started looking at the degradation of pyrotechnics. The technique of heat flow calorimetry was identified as the best technique for studying what was going on and a workshop was needed to bring experts in the field together a workshop,” he said.
Since the inaugural symposium, the event has been held in several countries – the UK, plus America, Germany and Holland. For most of that time, Professor Charsley has been a member of the organising committee – and was organising chairman for three UK conferences. After the recent 8th Symposium, held near Reading, he was presented with a certificate signed by the committee thanking him for 16 years’ commitment to International Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium. The current chairman came to the University of Huddersfield to hand it over in person.
Professor Charsley is in no doubt of the value of the Symposium, which has consistently been well attended.
“It has enabled an exchange of ideas between experts working not only in pyrotechnics but also propellants and explosives and in hazard evaluation as well,” he said.
Professor Charsley has over 40 years’ experience in the application of thermal analysis and allied techniques to the study of industrial problems and before commencing his academic career he was research director of Stanton Redcroft Ltd. He has authored over 120 publications and has two patents. He has held office in a number of organisations and in 2007 he received the Mettler-Toledo Award of the North American Thermal Society (NATAS) and in 2008 the NATAS Fellows Award. In 2008, he became the first English scientist to be awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership of International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, of which he is a Past President. He became an Emeritus Professor of the University of Huddersfield in 2008.
