The Newsletter of the World Innovation Foundation April - July 2000 Vol. 4 Edition 1

John Argyris FRS (Royal Medal), FREng (Prince Philip Medal) - Inventor of the ‘Finite Element Method’ Britain's Greatest Living Engineer Not Acknowledged Fully For His Momentous Engineering Achievements by Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Labour Party						Einstein Award Prof. John Argyris FIC FRS FREng FRAeS has been awarded the Einstein Award, one of the United States of America's highest distinctions. The Award was given by the Einstein Foundation for his momentous work on the Finite Element method and Chaos Theory. To date, Professor Argyris has been presented with the pre-eminent scientific and engineering awards from 16 industrialised nations of the world including 5 G8 countries. The WIF Website The Foundation’s website is presently undergoing several developments. Already in place are a new address - www.thewif.org.uk - and the new Newsletter design. By October, more substantial changes should go live, possibly including discussion forums and more in-depth content. The Foundation’s Webmaster would welcome any comments and suggestions on the current site. Scientific Discovery The World Innovation Foundation, PO Box A60, Huddersfield, England HD1 1XJ Tel: 0044 (0)1484 300207 Fax: 0044 (0)1484 300606 e-mail: info@thewif.org.uk Editors Dr. D. S. Hill Chris Wade Design Chris Wade
The World Wide Web has not been around for long, but with over 67,000 Web sites either dedicated to or which extensively utilise the Finite Element Method, or the Finite Element Analysis, and growing by the week, it is a clear indication of the greatness of the revolutionary invention of John Argyris. Indeed, some leading		engineers in the world today have already commented that the FEM will, in the latter part of the 21st century, become an equivalent tool to Newton's CALCULUS.   The problem in Britain today is that those people who actively make the future world far better are those who are not recognised for their status and standing in the progress		that we all hold so dear. Ex-politicians and entertainers are exalted to the highest echelon of British Society, but there are few examples of either scientists or engineers attaining this level of Establishment seniority. Indeed, there are no engineers who are peers in Britain today.
A small view of the life of John Argyris - Engineer Extrodinaire
John Argyris was born in Volos, Greece, into a Greek Orthodox family of mathematical notorieties. Indeed, his great uncle was Professor of Mathematics Constantine Carathepory of the University of Munich, a world renowned mathematician and recipient at the time of the world's highest mathematical honour. After studying engineering for four years at the Technical University of Athens, Argyris’s father decided to send him to Germany to complete his studies. His mother wanted him to go to England for this purpose but John Argyris's authoritarian father insisted that he went to Germany. There were two reasons why his mother wanted him to go to Britain. Firstly, her sisters were living there (unknown at the		time one of his aunt's sons would give his life as a British pilot in the Battle of Britain) and his younger brother was serving in the Royal Navy. Secondly, John Argyris had a great contempt for the Nazis and what they stood for in pre 2nd World War Europe. He completed his Diploma in Engineering at the University of Munich with a pass of 9.95, the maximum being an unprecedented 10. Indeed, the German professors said that they were completely astonished at John Argyris's capabilities and his work at such an early age. He then looked for the first time in his life for employment in the world-at-large. He was employed by a private consulting organisation working at the leading-edge technical design of highly complex structures.		One of these early incredible engineering accomplishments was that of designing a 320 metres high radio transmitter mast with a heavy mass concentrated at the top - at the time an unresolveable problem.   His dislike of the Nazis continued. John Argyris became a marked man as he would not stand up and make the German salute every morning as laid down by the Nazi regime. This and his outspoken ways made him a man that the Nazis took note of and watched discretely. This was a dangerous position to be in, in post-war Germany. Indeed, as it become increasingly likely that war would break out in Europe again and John Argyris saw the growing atrocities of the Nazis at first hand, he knew that he had to try to do
www.thewif.org.uk - The World Innovation Foundation - April - July 2000						1