Renfrey Burnard Potts 1925–2005

Professor Ren Potts was a mathematician who made outstanding contributions to both theory and diverse applications, especially operations research. His work in statistical mechanics, and the 'Potts Model', was particularly influential.

Ren Potts was an Australian applied mathematician whose early work in statistical mechanics later became influential: the ‘Potts Model' became his most cited work. As Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Adelaide for 30 years, he built up an excellent Department of Mathematics and had a major influence on the development of applied mathematics in Australia. His work in transportation science and operations research is well known. Ren Potts was a gifted teacher and an inspiring research leader. He was an early advocate of close cooperation between academia and industry, was an early adopter of computing for research and teaching, and was a pioneer in forging new links between Australian universities and the South-East Asia region.

Download the memoir

Renfrey Burnard Potts 1925–2005 PDF ( 274 KB )

About this memoir

This memoir was originally published in Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 25(2), 2014. It was written by L. H. Campbell and P. G. Taylor.