David Saxon

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David Saxon the Glasgow University years
John Chapman and Robin Leake
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David came to Glasgow from the Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory in 1990
He has made major contributions to the
Department, Faculty and University
These include Leader of the Experimental
Particle Physics Research Group Head of the
Departmental Teaching Committee Head of the
Department of Physics Astronomy Dean of the
Faculty of Physical Sciences Member of many
University committees
In addition he has held numerous posts involving
science policy at national and European level
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As leader of the Experimental Particle Physics
Research Group,

• David
• was successful in all his rolling grant
  bids to the research councils SERC,
  PPARC and STFC

• grew the size of the research group to
  over 65 members

• encouraged and facilitated increasing
  interaction between experimentalists and
  theoreticians

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In his departmental administrative roles,

• David
• oversaw the successful introduction to
  Glasgow of the MSci degree

• introduced a new and very successful
  research activity, the Optics group

• introduced a managerial approach whereby
  efficiency in the department was
  increased, whilst maintaining an atmosphere in
  which collegiality was not lost

• led the department to a rating of 5 in the
  Research Assessment Exercise and
  excellent in the Teaching Quality Assessment

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To summarise David has been an invaluable
member of the University contributing at the
highest level in all the tasks that he has
willingly undertaken. He indeed epitomises a
successful scientific leader of the early 21st
century
BUT
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The other David Saxon

• David
• almost became a classical scholar, his
  conversion to science coming late in his
  school career

• has a way with words that few in science
  today can match

• in many ways embraces the manners and
  values of an earlier age

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Arriving at Glasgow the interview
Nature abhors a vacuum
Nature abhors a vacuum, Saxon abhors a silence
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Chairing and participating in meetings with David
The vital ingredients

• reading the papers thoroughly and knowing
  the background

• the ability to withstand some of the worst
  puns ever

• familiarity with literature extending from
  Aristophanes via Shakespeare to P G
  Wodehouse and beyond

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Dionysus, the god of drama, discontented with the
poor quality of present-day tragedy, now that
Euripides is dead, disguises himself as Hercules
and goes down to Hades to bring back his
favourite playwright to the land of the living.
However, as the result of a competition which is
arranged between Euripides and the elder poet,
Aeschylus, Dionysus is won over from his old
allegiance and returns to earth with the latter
instead.
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Towards the future
Being Dean is ninety percent mental
and the other half is physical
The future aint what it used to be
If you come to a fork in the road, take it
In theory there is no difference between theory
and practice. In practice there is
I just want to thank everyone who made this day
necessary
Yogi Berra
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Within the University

• David
• was a voice of common sense in the University
  Management Group

• brought peace and progress to IT services

• spoke up for fair and inclusive promotions

• embraced new ideas but stuck by existing
  successes

• provided territorial sense in Senate

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Beyond the Walls

• Environmental Research Centre (SUERC)
  Management

• The Kelvin Celebrations

• SUPA, e-Science, the Scottish GRID,
  WestCHEM, SAGES

• Rumblings in the Research Councils

• Placating the Politicians

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Making sense of Life

• Territorial Deans Lunches

• Welcoming new students, staff, visitors,
  Physics teachers

• Supporting and encouraging others

 

• Planning for the Future Proleptics, RSA

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The last word