Professor Norman Fleck
Norman Fleck comes from Northern Ireland, and studied for a degree in
Engineering at Cambridge. He became a Professor in 1997.
"I
discovered simple harmonic motion at an early age by oscillating my mum's
silver teapot on a long elastic string, while standing on the dining room
table. This was also my first study on plastic deformation and fracture
mechanics. She was not pleased, but I was encouraged by such early successes."
Norman's father was a scientist, so he grew up with the notion of a career
in science, but was attracted to engineering as he knew it involved building
and making things. At the age of eight he had already decided he wanted
to be either a Professor of Engineering or the Managing Director of a
company. It's nice to hear of people who fulfil their ambitions. He regards
his research in Materials as a nice blend between science and engineering.
He has now moved away from experimental research into a more theoretical
approach to Materials Design.
Now married with two children, Norman enjoys family life as well as wine
tasting, exercising and skiing (when he can). "My work is really exciting,
as I love discovering new things. The students can be very stimulating
too, so I enjoy teaching them."
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