Professor Steve Scott

Profile

• BSc Chemical Sciences, University of Leeds (1976-79)
• PhD Physical Chemistry, University of Leeds (1979-82)
• British Gas Postodoctoral Fellow (1982-3)
• Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship, Macquarie University, Sydney (1983-5)
• Lecturer (1985-92), Reader (1992-5), Professor of Mathematical Chemistry (1995-present), School of Chemistry, University of Leeds
• Awards and Prizes: Harrison Memorial Prize (Royal Society of Chemistry 1984), Marlow Medal (Royal Society of Chemistry, 1991), Tilden Lectureship (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2004). Fulbright Scholarship (1992)
• Scientific Editor: Faraday Transactions, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (1997-99)

Responsibilities

• Executive Dean
• Athena SWAN lead
• Professor of Mathematical Chemistry

Research interests

My research has covered the dynamics of chemically reacting systems in which there is either chemical or thermal feedback, e.g. autocatalytic processes and combustion systems. The research involves experimental studies, numerical modelling and theoretical developments much in collaboration with colleageus from mathematics and chemical engineering as well as physical chemistry. A prototype model of chemical autocatalysis has become known as the 'Gray-Scott' model and is widely exploited in studies of nonlinear dynamics in chemical and biological systems in which oscillations, chaos, wave propagation or pattern formation are observed. Experimentally, we have reported on the ignition and extinction in the oxidation of simple fuels (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) and the observation of oscillations and chaotic combustion. Recent work has covered the stability of flame and chemical wave fronts in systems with heat loss or radical removal.

Qualifications

• BSc
• PhD

Student education

Distance learning coursework for students on industrial placement

Research groups and institutes

• Computational Chemistry and Chemical Physics