Derrick Ball, 1930-2017

The?UK¡¯s first professor of research and development management has died.

Derrick Ball was born in Hampstead, North London, in May 1930 and educated at Stockton-on-Tees Secondary School before going on to study chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield in 1947. After national service in 바카라사이트 Royal Air Force, he worked in industry, first in 바카라사이트 laboratories of Ashmore, Benson and Pease, a company engaged in process engineering, and 바카라사이트n at 바카라사이트 British Iron and Steel Research Association.

At this point Professor Ball decided to embark on his academic career, initially as assistant lecturer in chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, where he also completed a doctorate in molecular spectroscopy. He moved on to 바카라사이트 University of Salford for 20 years, where he became 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 UK's first bachelor¡¯s degree in chemistry and business studies, while also serving as a visiting senior research fellow at Manchester Business School and as a member of 바카라사이트 visiting faculty in Cranfield University¡¯s department of mechanical engineering.

In 1982, Professor Ball joined 바카라사이트 department of economics and accounting at Leicester Polytechnic, where he was highly unusual in teaching both chemistry and economics at degree level. When 바카라사이트 polytechnic became De Montfort University in 1992, he was?appointed 바카라사이트?UK¡¯s first professor of research and development management, although he retired and became emeritus 바카라사이트 following year.

Throughout his academic career, Professor Ball maintained his links with industry. He was a visiting scientist at 바카라사이트 Institut de Recherche de la Sid¨¦rurgie in Metz and a consultant for more than 20 companies ranging from Shell Refining to Blinab in Sweden. His books such as Agglomeration of Iron Ores (1973), Process Plant Contracting Worldwide (1985) and R&D Professionals in Their First and Second Managerial Appointments draw on his early industrial experience and his shift from engineering into management.

John Coyne, former vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Derby, recalls Professor Ball as ¡°바카라사이트 best mentor a young academic could wish for. He was very precise in his structured thinking, merciless when it came to academic rigour and a great editor of papers under review. Had he not had such a warm character he could have been frightening.

¡°As a confident but relatively inexperienced dean [at Leicester Business School] I benefited from 바카라사이트 ¡®quiet word¡¯ that Derrick would generously offer ¨C usually advising that I might wish to ¡®think again¡¯! He was seldom wrong.¡±

Professor Ball died of heart disease on 22 January and is survived by his wife Joyce, four sons and five grandchildren.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com