Prof. Sir Richard J. Brook

In 1988, Professor Brook became a scientific member of the Max-Planck-Society and Director at the Institute of Metals Research in Stuttgart. In 1991, he returned to the UK as Professor and later Head of the Department of Materials Science at the University of Oxford. His research interests throughout this time were concerned with the science of ceramics processing involving oxide, nitride and carbide systems. Since 1994, he has taken leave of absence from the University of Oxford to hold first the position of Chief Executive at the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (1994-2001) and subsequently that of Director at the Leverhulme Trust, the largest all-subject research support agency in the UK (2001-present).