Science of New Materials

Andrew Briggs Andrew Briggs read physics at Oxford University, and then studied for a Ph.D. at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. In 1980 he returned to Oxford to develop applications of acoustic microscopy in materials science. Two years later he was appointed to a Royal Society Research Fellowship in the Physical Sciences. In 1984 he was appointed to a University Lectureship and elected to a Fellowship of Wolfson College. From 1989-1991 he was Honorary Treasurer of the Royal. Microscopical Society. His book on acoustic microscopy was published earlier this year.

• Will anyone ever use metals and alloys again?, Sir Alan Cottrell; how shall we communicate and calculate?, J.C. Bass; will ceramics ever be as strong as steel?, J.D. Birchall; it's all very well in practice but what about theory?, D.G. Pettifer; can materials stimulate advances in orthopaedics?, W. Bonfield; how successful are superconductors?, Sir Martin Wood; can their be a materials policy in the UK?, C.J. Humphreys.