Alan Ward was a physicist who influenced science education in Africa.
Alan was born in Woodford, Essex, to Ursula Vale and Edward Ward, who worked in a bank. After completing a PhD in physics at the University of Birmingham in 1949, he was sent by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment to study poisoning in Danes. Honor Shedden was a physicist.
He became an associate professor at the University College of the Gold Coast in 1963. He set up a radioactivity laboratory and conducted experiments to establish the toxicity of Strontium-90, an isotope of concern in the aftermath of nuclear weapons.
Alan was part of the group of scientists involved in peaceful uses of radioactivity. Nuclear markers were used for agriculture and health.
In 1960, France set off a nuclear device in Algeria, and he provided insights into the impact on the local population. The French government was angry and sent in an army officer to verify the findings. The break off of diplomatic relations with France was caused by Ward's findings.
In the early 1960s, Alan used information from contacts at the International Atomic Energy Agency to suggest that a proposed Soviet nuclear research project in Africa was not advisable. He was asked to leave the country after he warned Nkrumah. He founded a physics department at the University of Zambia in 10 years. He lectured at the University of Botswana and Swaziland until 1986.
Both Alan and Honor were involved in developing science education, teaching physics at all levels, and supporting the development of applied physics infrastructure in Africa. Their faith was always at the center of their lives. Both were vociferous opponents of racist and colonial attitudes and wanted to make themselves redundant. Alan was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
He retired to the village of Hermitage in 1986 and built electric vehicles for the road and for his family to drive in the garden.
Honor passed away in 2016 Alan is survived by their children, James, Sheena, and me.
