Professor Michael Ashby is a world-renowned leader in materials science and engineering, holding the distinguished position of Royal Society Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge. He received his BA in Natural Science with First Class Honours in Metallurgy from Queens' College, Cambridge in 1957, followed by his MA in 1959 and PhD in 1961. Prior to his long-standing position at Cambridge, he served as Professor of Applied Physics at Harvard University from 1966 to 1973 and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Throughout his illustrious career, he has been a Principal Investigator at Cambridge's Engineering Design Centre since its inception, shaping the field through both academic leadership and practical application of engineering principles.
Professor Ashby is universally recognized as the forefather of modern materials selection methodologies, having developed the fundamental Ashby Plot technique that serves as the cornerstone of materials science education and practice worldwide. His prolific research output includes over 200 papers on plasticity and fracture mechanisms, powder compaction, wear processes, and materials design methodologies, alongside more than 15 influential books spanning introductory to advanced topics in materials science. His seminal work Materials Selection in Mechanical Design and Engineering Materials 2 have become standard references in academic curricula and industrial applications, while his research on cellular materials and metal foams has opened new frontiers in lightweight structural design. His development of scientifically rigorous approaches to material selection has transformed engineering practice by enabling systematic optimization of cost, performance, and sustainability across countless industries.
Beyond his specific research contributions, Professor Ashby has profoundly shaped the materials science community through his leadership roles, including serving as Editor of Acta Metallurgica from 1974 to 1995 and currently as Editor of Progress in Materials Science. He co-founded Granta Design in 1994, which developed the leading materials information software now distributed by Ansys, bridging the gap between academic research and industrial implementation. His influence extends to mentoring generations of engineers and materials scientists, with his methodologies continuing to educate students globally through widely adopted textbooks and educational resources. As an Emeritus Professor, he remains actively engaged in advancing the field through his ongoing work at the Engineering Design Centre, ensuring his legacy of rigorous, application-oriented materials science continues to evolve and inspire future innovations.
