Brian Keith Tanner CPhys, FRSA, FInstP, FHEA is a British physicist, currently Emeritus Professor of Physics and former Dean of Knowledge Transfer at Durham University.[5]

Prof.
Brian Keith Tanner
BornApril 1947 (age 76–77)
Northamptonshire[3]
Known forResearch and business applications of X-ray diffraction topography[4]
SpouseRuth Tanner
AwardsChartered Physicist
Fellow of the Institute of Physics
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Barrett Award of the International Center for Diffraction Data (2005)
Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion (2012)[1]
Gabor Medal (2014)[2]
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsDurham University
Linacre College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
ThesisX-ray diffraction topography; methods and applications (1971)

Early life

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Brian Tanner grew up in Northamptonshire, attending Wellingborough Grammar School.[6] He studied undergraduate physics at Balliol College, University of Oxford, where he went on to graduate with a DPhil in 1971 on 'X-ray diffraction topography; methods and applications'.[7]

Career

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Tanner is best known for research and business applications of X-ray diffraction topography.[4] Tanner has worked at the Department of Physics at Durham University since 1973, where he was made Professor of Physics in 1996 and was the University Dean of Knowledge Transfer from 2008 to 2016.[1] He has published over 375 papers in international peer-reviewed journals and 4 books.[8] In 1978 he co-founded Bede Scientific Instruments Ltd, since 2008 owned by Jordan Valley Semiconductors.[1]

Professor Tanner was the first Director of the North East Centre for Science Enterprise, serves as chief scientific advisor of the North East Technology Park (NETPark) and now chairs the County Durham Economic Partnership.[9][10]

Awards and honours

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Tanner is a Chartered Physicist, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Jointly awarded the 2005 Barrett Award of the International Center for Diffraction Data. Awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2012 for his work in promoting enterprise and business in the North East.[1] In 2014 the Institute of Physics awarded Tanner the Gabor Medal for distinguished work in the application of physics in an industrial, commercial or business context.[2]

Personal life

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Married to Ruth Tanner, formerly a Trustee and Deputy President of the Workers' Educational Association[11] and currently secretary of the Cobweb Orchestra, about which she published a history in 2013.[12] He has two sons: Rob is a teacher and Director of Cross-Curricular Learning at St Albans School [13] and Tom is a climate change academic at SOAS University of London.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Queen's Award for Durham University academic - Durham University". dur.ac.uk.
  2. ^ a b Institute of Physics. "2014 Gabor medal and prize". iop.org.
  3. ^ Hebden, Andrew. "Brian Tanner, Professor at Durham University". The Journal. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  4. ^ a b https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcher-careers/researcher-career-stories/professor-brian-tanner[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Prof BK Tanner - Durham University". dur.ac.uk.
  6. ^ "1958 Reunion Photographs OGs at Wellingborough Grammar School". grahamtall.co.uk.
  7. ^ Tanner, B. K. (1971). British Library EThOS : Thesis Details - X-Ray Diffraction Topography: Methods and Applications. bl.uk (Ph.D).
  8. ^ "Kromek - About us - The Board". kromek.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015.
  9. ^ Andrea Stephenson. "Chief Scientific Advisor". northeasttechnologypark.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Economic Partnership". Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Workers' Educational Association (WEA) - Adult Learning Course Provider UK". wea.org.uk.
  12. ^ "About – The Cobweb Orchestra". cobweborchestra.org.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  13. ^ "St Albans School". www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Dr Thomas Tanner | Staff | SOAS University of London". www.soas.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2021.