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March 28, 2005 Vol. 76, no.10S
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MSE professor Robert Ritchie was educated at Cambridge
University in England, where he received a B.A. degree in physics
and metallurgy in 1969, M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in materials science
in 1973, and the Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree in 1990. He
joined the faculty in mechanical engineering at MIT where he became
the Class of 1922 Associate Professor in 1979. At Berkeley, he
has been professor of materials science since 1982. His research
is in the fields of fracture mechanics and fatigue-crack propagation.
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Professor
Minute with MSE Professor Robert Ritchie
If you had decided not
to go into engineering, what other career would you have today?
I initially wanted to be a physicist, but found materials science to
be far more interesting. But if I wasn't a professor here at Berkeley
and had to do something entirely different, my real passion is Asian
antiques, especially Chinese and Japanese porcelain. I would love to
trade in Ming and Qing dynasty china and Japanese Imari.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time? You must be kidding! Who on the Berkeley faculty has spare
time anymore? However, when I get a free moment, I do love to travel,
to hike in the Sierras and beyond, and to play with my cute one-year-old
son, Duncan.
To date, what has been the most memorable moment in your career and
why?
There's not been one moment, but many. My most memorable moments
have been to see my students become head of the Materials Science Department
at MIT, become associate head at Stanford, to be on the faculty at the
University of Illinois, at Penn State, etc., and to be inducted into
the National Academy of Engineering. To me, a true measure of our worth
as professors is in the success of our students. I take great pride
in mine.
What CD are you listening to at the moment?
AC/DC. Need I say more?
If you would like us to
feature your favorite professor, please e-mail his or her name to engnews@coe.berkeley.edu.
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