Chris Brink
{{short description|South African mathematician and academic administrator}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Professor
| name = Chris Brink
| honorific-suffix = CBE, FRSSAf
| image =
| caption = Newcastle August 2013
| order =
| title = Vice-Chancellor
Newcastle University
| term_start = July 2007
| predecessor = Sir Christopher Edwards
| successor = Chris Day{{cite news|last1=Grove|first1=Jack|title=Newcastle University looks close to home for new v-c|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/newcastle-university-looks-close-home-new-v-c|accessdate=4 January 2017|work=Times Higher Education|publisher=TES Global|date=11 July 2016}}
| order2 =
| title2 = Rector and Vice-Chancellor
Stellenbosch University
| term_start2 = 2002
| term_end2 = 2007
| predecessor2 = van Wyk, A.H.
| successor2 = Botman, H.R.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|01|31}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Rand Afrikaans University
Rhodes University
University of Cambridge
| residence =
| profession =
| religion =
| salary =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Chris Brink, CBE, FRSSAf (born 31 January 1951) is a South African mathematician and academic. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University between 2007 and December 2016.{{cite news|last1=Elmes|first1=John|title=Newcastle University vice-chancellor to retire next year|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/newcastle-university-vice-chancellor-retire-next-year|accessdate=4 January 2017|publisher=TES Global|date=25 November 2015}}
Career
After graduating with a degree in maths and computer science from Rand Afrikaans University, Brink undertook post-graduate study at Rhodes University and the University of Cambridge.{{Cite web |url=http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/retention/social_mobility/Speaker_Biographies2.pdf |title=Higher Education Academy |access-date=6 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107010826/http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/retention/social_mobility/Speaker_Biographies2.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=dead }} He became professor and head of mathematics and applied mathematics at the University of Cape Town in 1995, pro-vice-chancellor (research) at the University of Wollongong in 1999 and rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University in 2002 before being appointed vice-chancellor of Newcastle University in 2007.{{cite web | url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/content.phtml?ref=1152029749 | title=Newcastle University names next Vice-Chancellor | publisher=Newcastle University | accessdate=10 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820202621/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/content.phtml?ref=1152029749 | archive-date=20 August 2006 | url-status=dead }}
In the 1980s Chris Brink was a senior research fellow at the Australian National University.{{cite web | url= http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/retention/social_mobility/Speaker_Biographies2.pdf | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140107010826/http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/retention/social_mobility/Speaker_Biographies2.pdf | url-status= dead | archive-date= 7 January 2014 | title= What can higher education contribute to improving social mobility in the UK? | publisher= Higher Education Academy | accessdate= 8 February 2014 }} In 1994 he joined with Gunther Schmidt to organize at Dagstuhl the initial RAMiCS conference on relation algebra. In 1996 The Foundation for Research Development in South Africa rated Chris Brink in category A.{{cite web | url= http://evaluation.nrf.ac.za/Content/Facts/View_previous_A.asp | title= Previous A-rated researchers | publisher= National Research Foundation South Africa | accessdate= 8 February 2014 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20140208202201/http://evaluation.nrf.ac.za/Content/Facts/View_previous_A.asp | archive-date= 8 February 2014 | url-status= dead }} He is a fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa,{{cite web | url= http://www.royalsocietysa.org.za/?page_id=759 |title=Fellows of the Royal Society of South Africa| publisher= Royal Society of South Africa | accessdate=8 February 2014}} a former president of the South African Mathematical Society, a founder member of the Academy of Science of South Africa{{cite web | url=http://www.assaf.co.za/members-list/ | title=Members List | publisher=Academy of Science of South Africa | accessdate=8 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123841/http://www.assaf.co.za/members-list/ | archive-date=16 January 2014 | url-status=dead }} and a former chair of the Advisory Board of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences.{{cite web | url= https://www.aims.ac.za/assets/files/AIMS/Annual_Reports/AIMS-South%20Africa%20Annual%20Report%202013.pdf | title= Annual Report 2013 | publisher= African Institute for Mathematical Sciences South Africa | accessdate= 8 February 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140116095419/https://www.aims.ac.za/assets/files/AIMS/Annual_Reports/AIMS-South%20Africa%20Annual%20Report%202013.pdf | archive-date= 16 January 2014 | url-status= dead }}
He chaired the Student Policy Network{{cite web| url= http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/aboutus/OurOrganisation/Pages/UKBoard.aspx| title= UK Board| publisher= Universities UK| accessdate= 8 February 2014| url-status= dead| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150716015925/http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/aboutus/OurOrganisation/Pages/UKBoard.aspx| archivedate= 16 July 2015| df= dmy-all}} (part of Universities UK) and the N8 Research Partnership, a group of eight research-intensive universities in the North of England.{{cite web | url= http://www.n8research.org.uk/about-us/people/n8-board-of-directors | title= N8 Board of Directors | publisher= N8 Research Partnership | accessdate= 8 February 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140117034742/http://www.n8research.org.uk/about-us/people/n8-board-of-directors/ | archive-date= 17 January 2014 | url-status= dead }}{{cite web| url= http://www.newcastlesciencecity.com/the-team/professor-chris-brink/| title= Newcastle Science City Board| publisher= Newcastle Science City| accessdate= 8 February 2014| archive-url= https://archive.today/20140115114237/http://www.newcastlesciencecity.com/the-team/professor-chris-brink/| archive-date= 15 January 2014| url-status= dead}} Nationally he has served on the Board of the Equality Challenge Unit (including two years as a Co-Chair),{{cite web| url= http://www.ecu.ac.uk/about-us/board-of-directors/chris-brink| title= Equality Challenge Unit Board of Directors| publisher= Equality Challenge Unit| accessdate= 8 February 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123623/http://www.ecu.ac.uk/about-us/board-of-directors/chris-brink| archive-date= 16 January 2014| url-status= dead}} the Board of the Quality Assurance Agency (and its Advisory Committee on Degree-Awarding Powers),{{cite web| url= http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Events/Pages/QAA-events-Annual-Subscribers-Meeting-2010.aspx| title= QAA Annual Subscribers' Meeting 2010| publisher= Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education| accessdate= 8 February 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140223013903/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Events/Pages/QAA-events-Annual-Subscribers-Meeting-2010.aspx| archive-date= 23 February 2014| url-status= dead}} and the Advisory Committee on Leadership, Governance and Management of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.{{cite web| url= http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Events/Pages/QAA-events-Annual-Subscribers-Meeting-2010.aspx| title= Expert Advisory Board – Members' Profiles| publisher= Advisory Committee on Leadership, Governance and Management of the Higher Education Funding Council for England| accessdate= 8 February 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140223013903/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Events/Pages/QAA-events-Annual-Subscribers-Meeting-2010.aspx| archive-date= 23 February 2014| url-status= dead}}
In November 2015, it was announced that Brink would be retiring in December 2016.{{cite web|title=University announces Vice-Chancellor's retirement|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/news/2015/11/universityannouncesvice-chancellorsretirement/|website=Press Office|publisher=Newcastle University|accessdate=13 July 2016|date=25 November 2015}} He was succeeded by Professor Chris Day, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle, in January 2017.{{cite web|title=Professor Chris Day appointed as next Vice-Chancellor|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/news/2016/07/profdayvc/|website=Press Office|publisher=Newcastle University|accessdate=13 July 2016|date=11 July 2016}}
Since 2017 Brink has served on the University Grants Committee (Hong Kong), where he convened the 2020 Research Assessment Exercise Group{{cite web |title=Membership of Research Assessment Exercise Group |url=https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/ugc/about/organisation/membership/raeg.html |website=University Grants Committee |accessdate=6 November 2018}} and currently convenes the Research Group.{{cite web |title=Membership of Research Group |url=https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/ugc/about/organisation/membership/rg.html |website=University Grants Committee |accessdate=26 January 2022}} His book The Soul of a University – Why excellence is not enough{{cite web |title=The Soul of a University Why Excellence is not Enough |url=https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-soul-of-a-university |website=Bristol University Press|accessdate=27 January 2022}} was published by Bristol University Press in July 2018.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Jo |title=Former university vice-chancellor launches new book exploring the role of higher education in society |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/16386726.former-university-vice-chancellor-launches-new-book-exploring-the-role-of-higher-education-in-society/ |accessdate=6 November 2018 |publisher=Northern Echo}} It deals with the role of universities in society, and elaborates on the two key questions he became known for while at Newcastle University: ‘What are we good at?’, and ‘What are we good for?’ He was appointed a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Lisa |title=Queen's birthday honours revealed - the North East list in full |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/queens-birthday-honours-list-full-14761139 |accessdate=6 November 2018 |publisher=Trinity Mirror}} In 2021 Brink published an edited volume The Responsive University and the Crisis in South Africa, with Brill/Sense Publishers. The book argues that beyond the now-standard practice of universities’ engagement with society, the more pressing question is how they actually respond to societal challenges. Half the contributing authors are from South Africa and the other half from around the world.{{cite book |title=The Responsive University and the Crisis in South Africa |url=https://brill.com/view/title/60379 |publisher=Brill |date=31 May 2021 |isbn=9789004465619 |accessdate=26 January 2022}}
Work in mathematics
Chris Brink developed the study of Boolean modules over relation algebras.{{cite web | url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/243017597 |title= Boolean_modules | publisher= Journal of Algebra | accessdate=8 February 2014}} He focused on formal aspects of computer science with emphasis on program semantics{{cite web | url= http://www.stanford.edu/group/cslipublications/cslipublications/site/1575863448.shtml|title= A Paradigm for Program Semantics: Power Structures and Duality| publisher= CSLI Publications| accessdate=8 February 2014}} and Popper's concept of verisimilitude and on the universal-algebraic concept of power structures.{{cite journal |title= Power structures | journal= Algebra Universalis| volume= 30| issue= 2| pages= 177–216|doi= 10.1007/BF01196091 |year = 1993|last1 = Brink|first1 = Chris| s2cid= 189832185}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060430054420/http://www.sun.ac.za/rector/ Official website of the Rector, Stellenbosch University]
- [http://www.chrisbrink.com/ Personal website]
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{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef| before = Christopher Edwards }}
{{s-ttl| title = Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne| years = 2007–2016 }}
{{s-aft| after = Chris Day}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brink, Chris}}
Category:South African mathematicians
Category:South African people of Dutch descent
Category:Academic staff of the University of Cape Town
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Academic staff of the University of Wollongong
Category:Vice-chancellors of Newcastle University
Category:Rhodes University alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge
Category:South African emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Academic staff of Stellenbosch University
Category:Academic staff of the Australian National University
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of South Africa
Category:South African Commanders of the Order of the British Empire