Ronald Bullough was a materials scientist and engineer who made major contributions to the study of irradiated solids. The theoretical frameworks that Ronald helped to devise have proved central to modern advances in nuclear engineering, firmly establishing him as a world leader in this field.

By studying the ways in which solids behave when exposed to high doses of ionising radiation, Ronald provided valuable models for the appearance and growth of cavities deep beneath the surface. As these voids can lead to a severe weakening of even the most resistant materials, managing their evolution is critical to establishing the operating regime of high-speed nuclear reactors.

Ronald was a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering. A former Chief Scientist and Director of Corporate Research at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, he also served as a scientific adviser to the UK’s National Physical Laboratory.

Professor Ron Bullough FRS died on 20 November 2020.