Richard Darton
Encyclopedia
Richard Charles Darton, OBE
, FREng (born 1 July 1948) was Head of the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
from 2004 to 2009. For 2008-2009 he was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers
. From 1 January 2010 he is President of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering
.
Darton graduated in chemical engineering
from the University of Birmingham
in 1970, then gained a PhD in 1973 at Downing College, Cambridge
, followed by two years of research. He then worked for Shell
in the Netherlands
. In 1991 he was seconded by the company to set up the first chemical engineering degree course at the University of Oxford, which was recognised by the award of FREng in 2000. In 2001 he joined Oxford as an academic (Keble College
), and in 2004 was appointed Head of the Department of Engineering Science.
Darton was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
for services to engineering.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FREng (born 1 July 1948) was Head of the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
The Department of Engineering Science is the focus of study of engineering science at Oxford University, England. It is located on the triangular plot formed by Banbury Road to the west, Parks Road to the east and Keble Road to the south. The main building is the tall 1960s Thom Building that...
from 2004 to 2009. For 2008-2009 he was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers
Institution of Chemical Engineers
The Institution of Chemical Engineers is a global professional engineering institution with over 33,000 members in over 120 countries worldwide, founded in 1922, and awarded a Royal Charter in 1957.-Structure:...
. From 1 January 2010 he is President of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering
European Federation of Chemical Engineering
The European Federation of Chemical Engineering . Also known as: Fédération Européenne du Génie Chimique and Europäische Föderation für Chemie-Ingenieur-Wesen. An association of professional societies in Europe concerned with chemical engineering.It was formed in Paris on 20 June 1953 with 18...
.
Darton graduated in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
in 1970, then gained a PhD in 1973 at Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, followed by two years of research. He then worked for Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In 1991 he was seconded by the company to set up the first chemical engineering degree course at the University of Oxford, which was recognised by the award of FREng in 2000. In 2001 he joined Oxford as an academic (Keble College
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
), and in 2004 was appointed Head of the Department of Engineering Science.
Darton was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
for services to engineering.