Person Hirsch; Sir; Peter Bernhard (1925-2025); materials scientist Hirsch Peter Bernhard Sir materials scientist 1925-2025 British Male Berlin, Germany, Europe 16 January 1925 19250116 Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 12 September 2025 20250912

Materials scientist Physics Materials Science Education: Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea; St Catharine's College, Cambridge 1943 Career: Joined the Crystallography Department of the Cavendish Laboratory to work for a PhD on work hardening in metals (1946); Assistant Director of Research in Physics, Cambridge University (1957); University Lecturer in Physics, Cambridge University (1958); Readership in Physics, Cambridge University (1964); appointed Head of the Department of Metallurgy & Materials and Isaac Wolfson Professor of Metallurgy, University of Oxford (1966-1992); Honorary Fellowship, St Catharine's College, Cambridge (1982); Emeritus Professor of Metallurgy, Department of Materials, University of Oxford (2025). Honours: Kt 1975 Awards/Medals: Franklin J. Clamer Medal 1970 Wolf Prize in Physics 1983/4 Holweck Medal 1988 Lomonosov Gold Medal 2005 Memberships: Chairman of the UK Atomic Energy Authority 1982–84 Technical Advisory Group on the Structural Integrity to the UK Nuclear Industry 1993–2002 Great niece: Afua Hirsch FRSL, writer and broadcaster. Pioneered the direct observation and motion of crystal defects called dislocations in thin foils using a transmission electron microscope. These observations have helped explain the role of dislocations in controlling plastic deformation of metals. He and his group developed the theory of electron diffraction contrast imaging, which enables dislocations to be observed and characterised. He was one of the many Jewish children that escaped Germany via the Kindertransport missions. Royal Society roles: Council: 1977-1979 Medals and prizes: Hughes Medal 1973; Royal Medal 1977 Lectures: UK-Canada Rutherford 1992 Fellow 21/03/1963 38 Congratulatory certificate on the fiftieth anniversary of election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society 2013 The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Sir Peter Hirsch FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/peter-hirsch-11625/;last accessed: 24/09/2025] St Catharine's College, Cambridge, Professor Sir Peter Hirsch FRS (16 January 1925–12 September 2025), 19 September 2025, [URL: https://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/prof-sir-peter-hirsch; last accessed: 24/09/2025] University of Oxford, Department of Materials, Prof Sir Peter Hirsch: 1925-2025, [URL: https://www.materials.ox.ac.uk/article/prof-sir-peter-hirsch-frs; last accessed: 24/09/2025] International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Hirsch%2C+Peter RCN 19002 RCN 15121 RCN 15189 RCN 9776 16 Jan 1925 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 24/09/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA4184 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 24/09/2025 RS_NET\VidaM Yes 443ce6e3-a602-4018-9679-6acfd2ed9625