C1379/22/01 TR1-5

Interviewed for 'A Changing Planet', a sub-project of An Oral History of British Science.

Documentation: Summary; transcript; copies of digital photographs

Summary:

• Track 1 [2:00:16] [Session 1] John Nye [JN], born Hove, Sussex, 26 February 1923. Mentions mother. Maternal grandfather’s career as oil painter. maternal grandmother. Mother’s childhood, late marriage; father’s service in WW1 (World War One); parents’ meeting; marriage c.1920; mother’s keenness that JN and brother should have excellent education; father’s childhood; paternal grandparents. [5:21] Paternal grandparents’ invention of Beresford photographic bag. Story of father’s life and career. Father’s membership of Catholic Apostolic Church [CAC]; own church attendance as child. Father’s brother showing JN pictures of the Creation. Impression of CAC as a child; organisation of CAC. [14:58] Mother’s Anglicanism. Demonstrating father’s mix of tolerance and moral certainty. [18:07] father’s and own quarter-plate photography; paternal grandfather’s invention of ‘Beresford inverter’. [20:49] Brother Peter, born 1921. Playing tennis on/maintaining court at Hove home. [22:30] Description of family home in Hove until 1936; wireless built by uncle. Mentions drawing circuit diagram of wireless. [27:55] mother’s illness; lack of time spent with mother. Mentions a Mrs Pelling who took JN and brother out; mother’s playing of tennis. Summer holidays in Britain. Tour of England and Scotland, visiting cathedrals. Books read with mother: ‘Chatterbox’, ‘Lottie of London Bridge’, ‘Children of the New Forest’, ‘Kidnapped’, ‘Treasure Island’, nursery book about a giant. [31:27] Mentions attending kindergarten in house similar to home. Moral priorities of mother; tendency of parents not to say ‘I love you’; illustrative story of stomach ache before school. [34:07] Time spent with father; father’s moral values. Avoiding work as ‘Acolytes’ in church; father’s keenness to take sons to Sunday catechism; travelling through Brighton slums to church. Father’s view of poverty, patriotism, interest in planning for slum clearance. [37:29] parents Conservative politics; involvement in the Navy League; parents’ keenness to attend official dinners; lack of discussion of national or local politics at home. Brief description of Brighton slums viewed as a child. Father swimming on holiday, Norway. Lack of physical contact between JN and parents; father’s valuing of ‘correct’ pronunciation/grammar. [42:05] Effect of acquiring bicycle. Stories of exploring Sussex, including South Downs, with brother: playing golf; brother using speedometer on steep hill with JN as lookout. [46:43] Lessons at kindergarten, including handwriting, history, French. Stories of lessons at Holland House [HH] School, Hove from age 7. Mentions ‘sadist’ Headmaster. Father agreeing to fund HH; attendance at new school, Claremont in buildings of HH. Claremont school including teaching of geography, perspective drawing, lack of nature study; educational ‘holiday expeditions’ at HH. Academic success resulting in exceptional ‘form’ and additional tutor in calculus. Description of drawing of line of construction in Euclidian geometry. [1:00:11] finding mathematics easier/more interesting than languages; lack of science teaching at Claremont. [1:01:50]
• Track 1 [cont.] Meccano constructions, in response to question about childhood interest in science; using aunt’s gift of cameras to build an enlarger; winning box camera at school; stamp collecting; gift of electrical set and brother’s chemistry set. Description of experiments performed with chemistry set. Interest in conjuring, enhanced by father’s Boys’ Own book ‘Sports and Pastimes’ [SAPT]; experiment on expansion of metal, detailed in SAPT; failed construction of electric motor, bought from Marks and Spencer. interest in picture in Children’s Encyclopaedia of water molecules. Mention’s Arthur Mee’s ‘Wonderful Day’. Other uses of chemistry set, in attic of second house; buying of books and manuals. [1:12:06] Parents’ lack of interest in or verbal recommendation of science. Description of use of electrical set. [1:14:39] Mentions childhood wish to become a structural engineer; brother’s interest in chemistry. Not enjoying analysis in chemistry. [1:15:52] Description of chemistry demonstration at Stowe (public) School [SS]. Mentions brother’s school: Charterhouse. first and very positive second impressions of SS. Separation from brother. [1:19:48] Mentions choosing to study physics (rather than biology) with chemistry. Detailed description of teaching of physics at SS, including experiments using lenses, using calorimeter to find ‘specific heat’ of copper, demonstrations of vortices in a wind tunnel, waveforms in oscilloscope, electrical discharge in partly evacuated tube. [1:26:15] Science teaching at SS. Description of demonstration of oscilloscope at SS, c. 1938. Use of ‘ripple tank’ in own teaching on waves at University of Bristol, sending related paper to retired SS teacher W Llowarch (author of book on ‘ripple tank’), teacher’s reply. Asking question on rays of this teacher. Mentions catastrophe theory. [1:33:12] teaching of chemistry; preference for physics and mathematics. Taking photograph of chemistry master. Teaching of mathematics, including masters, teaching of vectors, textbooks, own ability, one-to-one teaching and small group teaching. [1:37:40] application to Kings College [KC], Cambridge influenced by master; achieving scholarship; final terms at SS studying shorthand, economics, mathematics. Description of one-to-one teaching in mathematics, based on Arthur Eddington’s [AE] book on relativity. Positive manipulation of symbols in calculus. preparing for Cambridge scholarship examination in mathematics and physics. School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. [1:43:30] difficulty making significant friends at SS; sense of self as ‘backward socially’; finding it easier to form friendships with more scholarly Cambridge peers. Spending time visiting art school at SS; activity in Home Guard, including dawn/dusk patrols watching for German paratroopers, carrying live ammunition, 1940, aged c.17. [1:47:55] Experience of WW2 (World War Two), including Daily Telegraph map with flags, Officer Training Corps, Local Defence Volunteers (later ‘Home Guard’) [1:50:17] scenes of bombing in London, digging of bomb shelters. Bombing of SS playing field and being asking to collect shrapnel to preserve the lawnmower blades; fire-watching from roof of KC chapel. Description of spent incendiary bombs; Daily Telegraph map; training in Home Guard. Death in WW2 of peers. own exemption from call up through interview with C P Snow. WW2 valuing of scientists, especially in relation to radar.
• Track 2 [1:01:01] SS Headmaster, JF Roxburgh [JFR]; relations with JFR; JFR’s lessons on architecture, Latin verse. Winning mathematics prize of book on SS with selected photographs. [05:58] Taking Tripos after one term, accepting Sir Lawrence Bragg [LB] offer of job in Cavendish Laboratory [CL], Cambridge. Mentions Randall and Boot’s ‘cavity magnetron’. work in Egon Orowan’s [EO] group in basement of CL. Mentions military service; 12:05] EO life and early career. Arriving at CL, LB’s introduction to JN’s work on ‘shatter phenomena’ (brittle fracture) in steel. Description of EO’s laboratory in basement, including equipment, shared desk with EO, colleagues Hoff (Austrian refugee) and Captain Los (Polish refugee), experiments of colleagues. [16:47] Beginning work for EO on brittle fracture, using mathematical theory of plasticity of metals. Mentions book by Nadai. Description of theory of plasticity. Mentions link with soil mechanics. Relations with Fort Halstead, led by physicist Nevill Mott [NM]. Fact brittle fracture findings published at end WW2, thereby unused but part of EO’s review in ‘Reports on Progress in Physics’. discovering various national groups had been working secretly on brittle fracture. [22:31] Cambridge meeting of physicists, metallurgists, naval engineers, ship builders, navigators on brittle fracture. Description of ‘fracture strength’ and ‘yield strength’ of metals; EO’s reasoning and approach. Comments EO’s career since emigration from Hungary, 1936; EO’s work with GI Taylor [GT] and Michael Polanyi [MP] of theory of ‘dislocations’ in crystal structure of metal. [30:05] Detailed description of theory of ‘dislocations’. EO’s emigration, background in engineering, Berlin. Description of process of presenting diagrams, equations and symbols in publications. [38:55] absence of discussion between JN and CL émigré colleagues concerning their backgrounds; own feelings about morality of wartime. Mentions NM’s research in ‘theoretical armaments’. Description of GT’s work on ‘plastic waves’, involving firing of paraffin wax cylinders into metal and experimental wheel. [43:01] Mentions metallurgist Mrs Tipper; engineering laboratory. Mentions absence of female scientists at CL when started; Audrey Douglas. Later employment of female crystallographers, many trained by John Desmond Bernal [JB], including Helen McGaw, Dorothy Crowfoot (later Hodgkin). [45:05] move to first floor laboratory, CL, after WW2; sharing desk with EO, listening to EO’s visitors. Mentions beginnings of interest in glaciology. [46:25] teaching of mathematics and physics in Cambridge degree. lectures in number theory. Preference for ‘down-to-Earth’ mathematics. Finding contrast between AE’s popular writings and lectures; AE’s evening lectures. Reading recent book on AE’s Quakerism, unknown at time. Mentions looking at AE’s popular science books recently; formal nature of AE’s lectures on ‘spherical trigonometry’; use in crystallography of these formulas introduced in book by FC Philips. [53:52] demonstrating in practical classes in CL. Mentions old fashioned atmosphere of CL; staff including Mr Bedford, Dr GFC Searle [FS](designer of scientific equipment); later job in FS’s optics laboratory. Conversation with FS. Description of FS’s laboratory; one of FS’s experiments; repetition of experiment at Bristol later; recent discussion with John Hannay [JH] on same. [59:30] modern ‘wave’ optics; FS’s production of equipment to measure standard Ohm.
• Track 3 [2:08:07] teaching staff at Cambridge at time of degree, including college mathematics supervisor Albert Ingham [AI], lecturers and specialisms: Aston (isotopes/mass spectroscopy), Kemmer (thermodynamics), LB (optics). Description of LB’s demonstrations. LB’s homely metaphors to explain complicated phenomena. [06:40] LB’s development of bubble demonstration of structure of metal, inspired by mixing oil during gardening. [10:40] Similarity between behaviour of bubbles on surface of water and that of metal atoms. Mentions movie and paper on bubble demonstration. LB hand writing Royal Society paper in one evening. Mentions reproduction in textbook. [13:47] LB’s development of bubble model; lectures to students using projected bubbles; own work with LB in ‘Cavendish Professor’s research room’. Mentions assistant Crowe’s manufacture of equipment. making of soap solution; experimenting; photographing ‘dislocation events’; attempt to describe dislocations mathematically. Taking photograph to LB, leading to study of kinds (cubic/hexagonal) of three-dimensional close packing. Description of LB’s idea of ‘partial dislocation’ [PD] involving stacking faults. LB’s making ping-pong ball model of PDs, writing paper for ‘Nature’, discovering idea had already been expressed by American scientist William Shockley [WS], discovery later that photograph of bubbles contained PD. [22:25] Description of process of photographing bubbles using quarter-plate camera while stressing surface using sprung calliper grips. Description of reasons for origin of dislocations within, rather than at edges, of bubble surface. [25:55] LB’s late afternoon visits to laboratory to discuss bubble work. Description of LB’s appearance. [27:06] LB’s interest in metals; origins of ‘material science’; status of ‘dislocations’ as theoretical, until bubble demonstration; subsequent observation of ‘dislocations’ in metals by Peter Hirsch using electron microscope. [30:46] LB’s ‘Edwardian’ character; LB’s evening dances. visiting LB’s house and being shown biro drawings, cotton frame used for portraiture; visiting LB at home to share first glaciological calculations. Story illustrating relations between LB and wife, Alice Bragg. [34:23] Description of PhD ‘Plastic Deformation’ contents, including final chapter on bubble model. Detailed description of work for thesis on stressed silver chloride sheets, suggested by EO. [43:21] expansion of EO’s group. pair of researchers in EO’s department using lathe to turn uranium. [45:54] Description of accommodation in Kings College ‘hostel’; toasting fork. College dinners. ‘Packing list’ sent to home from Kings. mixing with students of various disciplines at dinner. [50:22] Status of arts and science subjects at Cambridge; attending lectures outside Science Faculty; friend John Butler; other friendships, including reunion. Mentions time in Cambridge, 1941-1951. Relations with KC ‘Dons’. involvement in KC ‘Ten Club’, involving play readings, including club members’ view of JN. [55:17] joining all three political clubs, listening to speakers including Kingsley Martin and Herbert Morrison; relationship with Audrey Blakey (Newnham mathematician). Realising what friendship involved. Mentions playing tennis with girls. Imogen and Liz Wrong meeting future husbands at party. Political club dances at ‘Dorothy Cafe’. Involvement in club CUSIA (Cambridge University Society for International Affairs), President: GM Trevelyan. [1:02:38]
• Track 3 [cont.] Numbers of female students in mathematics lectures (c.6/30), in physics lectures. Mentions Newnham rules on wearing of trousers on Cambridge side of bridge over Cam; Girton and Newnham students’ ability to take examinations, but not to receive degrees; larger relative numbers of women on arts courses. [1:04:31] Relations between practical work and assumed masculinity. FS ‘bullying’ female student during experiment. conservative culture of Cambridge. Further story of FS ‘bullying’ female student. [1:08:17] LB’s daughter Patience, relative lack of discrimination; significance of crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale, first female FRS. [1:09:32] Undergraduate reaction to female students; effect of demobilisation. [1:12:01] origin of interest in ice physics involving visit to EO of geographer Vaughan Lewis [VL] with query concerning cirque glaciers. Description of VL’s working model of a cirque glacier; VL’s questioning of EO about mechanics of formation of tarn by cirque glaciers. [1:16:02] Mentions London meeting on mechanical problems concerning glaciers. Description of EO’s analysis of glaciers, including calculation of thickness of glacier implied by its movement (overcoming of strength of attachment to rock); maximum height of ice column before extrusion at base, contribution of Bill Ward (Building Research Station, Watford) concerning crevasse depth, mathematical explanation for depth of ice caps. Mentions seismic work on alpine glaciers, middle of Greenland ice sheet, verifying calculations. [1:23:23] Mentions attending London meeting of British Glaciological Society, Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Metals, c.1947; own account of meeting for ‘Nature’; application to ‘Nature’ for job. Description of own first attempts to develop mathematical model of glacier movement/deformation, including difference from EO’s simpler block model. Mentions showing paper to LB. Description of attempt to apply ‘strain hardening’ or ‘creep law of ice’ to own model; ‘non-linear viscous creep’. [1:31:51] Discussion and description of graph showing deformation rate in relation to stress reproduced in early paper in glaciology. Mentions John Glen’s [JG] related fridge experiments. Mentions JG’s appointment to CL, as Max Perutz’s [MP] research student. Description of MP’s ‘pipe experiment’ on distribution of velocity with depth, 1948-1950 on Jungfraufirn glacier, Switzerland. [1:36:43] JG being directed by MP to measure creep of ice. Description of JG’s experiments on compressed ice in windowed fridge, resulting in graph and ‘Glen flow law’. [1:39:58] telling MP impossible to find structure of Haemoglobin, before computers, including LB’s view of MP’s success. Mentions effect of MP’s work in moving crystallography from physical to life sciences. [1:42:10] Stories of tea time in CL, mentioning colleagues. Mentions MP lone working in separate Molteno Institute, moving to CL later; MP’s outsider status. [1:45:44] Mentions delegates at London glaciology meeting. Further work on glaciers, linked to ‘Glen flow law’ and previous work compressing lead. Description of process of drawing curves for thesis/publications. Mentions EO’s contribution. Problem identified; paper published. [1:52:02]
• Track 3 [cont.] Gerald Seligman [GS] inviting JN to publish paper in Journal of Glaciology [JOG]. Mentions success of paper, in spite of own reservations. GS and MP’s fieldwork on glacier; GS as amateur scientist/skier; formation of British Glaciological Society [BGS]; GS’s feelings about change in name from BGS to International Glaciological Society [IGS]. discussion of ‘pipe experiment’, late 1940s, between GS, MP, EO, Sir Edward Bullard, GT with GS favouring British only project; MP’s loss of heating tool to melt hole for pipe. Mentions contribution of mountaineer Andre Roch. RS funded visit to Swiss glaciers of MP and EO. own visit to Jungfraufirn with JG, assisted by MP. Mentions MP’s attitude to glaciology. [2:03:54] helping MP with pipe experiment. Results of pipe experiment over three years; MP’s and own more sophisticated interpretation of results.
• Track 4 [25:37] Description of theory of ‘extrusion flow’, assuming faster flow at base of glacier, not supported by ‘pipe experiment’. Mathematical response to American Joel E Fisher’s arguments on ‘extrusion flow’. [3:21] Appointment as Demonstrator in Department of Mineralogy and Petrology [DMP], through recommendation of EO and Dennis Riley. Description of research interests of DMP, split between microscopic studies of thin sections, and CL x-ray crystallography. Mentions reading FC Phillips book on crystallography. Formulaic first year demonstrations, standard notations. meeting Head of Department Professor C ETilley. Mentions own lectures on x-ray crystallography. Attending W.A. Wooster’s [WW] lectures on ‘crystal physics’. WW’s invitation to set up crystallography laboratory, Peking. Correcting WW’s crystal physics lectures, involving ‘tensors’. [12:58] writing book Physical Properties of Crystals: Their Representation by Tensors and Matrices (1957); work on aluminium at Bell Labs [BL], New Jersey, with WS (co-inventor of transistor). Description of BL, including work of staff. America; return after one year. Mentions paper on collapse of ice tunnels. Detailed description of work on ‘continuous distributions of dislocations’, involving ‘tensors’ and related work of mathematicians on non-Euclidian space/ ‘space with torsion’.
• Track 5 [32:18] origin of VL’s fieldwork involving tunnel dug through steeply sloping Vesl-Skautbreen glacier to observe action of ice on bed, including arrival in Geography Department of John McCall [JM]. Undergraduates digging tunnel to glacier bed, guided by JM’s ‘Holy cross’ in theodolite; JN and JG observing tunnel; digging of second tunnel. Mentions geologists viewing tunnel; MP’s ice laboratory on Jungfraufirn; similar work by Ray Adie. [06:17] Mentions distinction between tunnels into Vesl Skautbreen and larger glacier: Austerdalsbreen [AB]. Study of banding and ‘pressure waves’ on AB, picked by engineer Bill Ward [BW]; VL’s yearly undergraduate fieldtrips to AB, involving tunnel through base of ‘ice fall’. Description of the ‘tunnel camp’ in moraine. Mentions JG’s measurement of tunnel contraction. BW’s pipe in tunnel for later inclinometer measurement. [10:49] own research on ‘pressure waves’. Discussing formation of undulations with Professor Hollingworth. Experiment with stakes. Mentions Cuchlaine King; other geologists: Sharp, Jackson. Making map of glacier, showing undulations, in 1955; organising 1956 undergraduate programme of work with BW, as VL ill. Description of process of setting out/examining stakes across glacier to test ‘pressure wave’ theory. [16:39] Mentions combination of own and JG’s work; JG’s observations on stakes. Detailed description of findings, explaining formation of undulations on glacier. use of camera to record rate of ice fall, including production of moving film; work following year with second line of stakes; publication; follow-up work in ‘convolution’ by colleague, University of Washington. [24:32] fate of Bill Ward’s piece of cabling and aluminium ladder placed inside collapsing tunnel. Mentions recent visit as tourist. [26:45] Mentions undergraduates from Department of Geography, Cambridge; fewer from Physics Department, Bristol; borrowing water-proof trousers from Jean Clarke [JC]; JC’s interest in cirque glaciers, rotational slip, ‘slip bands’. Research of staff of Geography Department; difficulty establishing Geography as undergraduate and graduate discipline; relations with Geodesy and Geophysics; nature of discipline of Geophysics. Mentions Harold Jeffreys [HJ] book on ‘The Earth’.