Rustum Roy

Referred to as a legend of materials science at the time of his death, Rustum Roy (July 3, 1924 – August 26, 2010) was a scientist with doctoral training in the area of ceramics, making seminal contributions in theoretical and experimental understandings in those fields. He founded the Materials Science Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University and progressed through the ranks of the faculty, becoming emeritus professor, with affiliations to three departments.

Later in life he held visiting professorships in materials science at Arizona State University, and in medicine at the University of Arizona.

Roy described himself as a science policy analyst, was an advocate of interdisciplinary education, and had strong and published interests in the areas of alternative medicine and the proper relationship between science and religion.

Early life and education

Roy was born in Ranchi, Bihar Province, India.In 1942 he received BS in Physical Chemistry from Patna University and in 1944 his MS from the same university. He earned a Ph.D. in ceramics, from Pennsylvania State University, in 1948.

Career

Positions held

Roy held the following faculty and other professional positions throughout his career:

• Evan Pugh Professor of the Solid State, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), to emeritus
• Professor of Geochemistry, Penn State, to emeritus
• Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Penn State, to emeritus

Career highlights

Rustum Roy was a materials scientist referred to as "[o]ne of the legends of materials science" at the time of his death. He trained in and doing research in ceramics and related areas, and made seminal contributions in theoretical and experimental understandings in those fields.

He founded the Materials Science Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University and progressed in a long career at that institution through the ranks of the faculty, becoming emeritus professor, with affiliations to three departments, including materials science and geochemistry.

Later in life he held visiting professorships in materials science at Arizona State University, and in medicine at the University of Arizona.

Roy was elected as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 1973, and to various other international academies over the remainder of his career, with particular recognition coming from ceramists and materials scientists in Japan (see below).

Publications

Representative research

Roy authored hundreds of technical papers.

• Materials Science and Engineering in the United States: Proceedings (1970, contributor), Pennsylvania State University Press, ISBN 0271001011.

Edited volumes

• Materials Science and Engineering Serving Society (1998, with others), Elsevier Science, ISBN 0444827935.
• The Interdisciplinary Imperative: Interactive Research and Education, Still an Elusive Goal in Academia (2000), Writers Club Press, ISBN 0595011799.

Other authored/co-authored books

• Honest Sex (2003 [1969], with coauthor Della Roy), Signet Press, ISBN 0595272134.
• Experimenting With Truth: The Fusion of Religion With Technology Needed for Humanity's Survival [1979 Hibbert Lectures] (1980), Pergamon Press, ISBN 0080258204.
• Radioactive Waste (1982), Pergamon Press, ISBN 0080275419.
• Lost at the Frontier: U.S. Science and Technology Policy Adrift (1985), ISI Press, ISBN 0894950428.

Other works

• Science of Whole Person Healing: Proceedings of the First Interdisciplinary International Conference (2003, contributor), iUniverse, ISBN 0595301533.
• Observations and Studies of the Healing Efficacy of the Life Vessel (2012) [2009].

Other interests

Public policy

Roy described himself as a science policy analyst, and as a "citizen scientist." He served as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies (1980–1985), and Senior Policy Fellow at the Brookings Institution (1982–1983).

Roy was an advocate of interdisciplinary education.

Health

Later in life Roy held a visiting professorship in medicine at the University of Arizona, and while there, worked with Andrew Weil's program in integrative medicine. Hence, he had strong and published interests in the area of alternative medicine, and in homeopathy in particular. Publishing originally in a journal for which he was editor-in-chief, he wrote in great technical detail about the theory of water structure, and its potential to the alternative medical specialty, homeopathy. which he defended in a letter to The Guardian.

Religion

Roy had strong and published interests in the proper relationship between science and religion. He was on the Planning and Strategy Committee of the National Council of Churches from 1964–70.

Awards and honours

Roy was honoured with the following awards and affiliations throughout his career:

• Mineralogical Society of America Award, 1957;
• Member, National Academy of Engineering, 1973.
• Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, 1977;
• Foreign Fellow, Indian National Science Academy, 1984;
• Honorary Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences, 1990;
• Ceramic Society of Japan (Centennial) International Award, 1991;
• Honorary Member, Ceramic Society of Japan, 1991;
• Foreign Associate, Engineering Academy of Japan, Foreign Associate, 1991;
• Federation of Materials Societies, National Materials Advancement Award, 1991;
• American Chemical Society, DuPont Award in Chemistry of Materials, 1993;
• American Society for Engineering Education Centennial Medal, 1993;
• American Society for Engineering Education Hall of Fame, installed, 1993 (1 of 43 in 100 years);
• Foreign Member, Academy of Russian Sciences Foreign Member, 1999;
• Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, 2002.

Personal life

Roy became an American citizen in 1961.

Roy was married to Della Martin Roy, and had three children: Neill R. Roy, Jeremy R. Roy, and Ronnen A. Roy.

Roy died on August 26, 2010 at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife and children.

External links

• Rustum Roy home page
• Profile and interviews at PBS Faith and Reason series
• Scientific paper proof of the inability of water to retain structure Published in Nature (journal)