We are proud to share that Sir Eric Ash, John Midwinter and former UCL Provost Sir Derek Roberts have been included in the latest update of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, published on 12 June 2025.
The summer 2025 edition adds biographies of 238 individuals who made a lasting contribution to UK public life and who died in 2021. Among them are three groundbreaking engineers who played major roles in the development of the department and the wider college to help shape research and policy across academia and industry.
Sir Eric Ash (1928–2021) joined UCL in 1963, becoming a professor and later Head of Department. His research in ultrasonics and surface acoustic waves led to groundbreaking work in super-resolution imaging. He later became Rector of Imperial College London.
John Midwinter (1938–2021), a world-leading expert in optical fibre communications, joined UCL in 1984. As BT Professor of Optoelectronics, he advanced research in optical computing and digital optics, and went on to serve as Head of Department, Pender Professor and Vice-Provost.
Sir Derek Roberts (1932–2021) made significant contributions to semiconductor research before moving into academic leadership. He served two terms as Provost of UCL, during which he helped to establish key research centres and steered the university through important structural changes.
The entries on Sir Eric Ash and John Midwinter were written by Professor Polina Bayvel FRS, Professor of Optical Communications in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Professor Bayvel also authored the ODNB entry on Nobel Prize winner Sir Charles Kao. The entry on Sir Derek Roberts was written by Professor Sir Michael Pepper FRS, Pender Professor of Nanoelectronics in the department.
The ODNB now includes over 1,000 individuals connected with UCL, reflecting the university’s far-reaching impact across science, culture and public life.
