Len Fisher
{{Short description|Australian physicist (born 1942)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox academic
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| name = Len Fisher
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| image = Len Fisher (cropped).JPG
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| caption = Len Fisher presenting a paper on mummia at the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery in 2012
| birth_name = Leonard Ross Fisher
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1942}}
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| nationality = Australian
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| awards = Order of Australia, Ig Nobel Prize
| website = {{Official|https://www.lenfisherscience.com/}}
| education = University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, University of Bristol
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| discipline = Physicist
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| workplaces = University of Bristol
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Leonard Ross Fisher {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} (born 1942) is an Australian physicist, and visiting senior research fellow at the University of Bristol, UK. He is known for his research into everyday topics, such as the optimal way to dunk a biscuit, and the optimum use of cheese in a cheese sandwich.
Education
Fisher received a BSc in chemistry and pure mathematics,{{cite web|title=Dr Len Fisher: About Me|url=https://www.lenfisherscience.com/about-me/|access-date=19 March 2021}}{{Better source needed|date=March 2021}} and an MSc in radiation chemistry from the University of Sydney.{{Cite book|last=Fisher|first=Leonard Ross|url=https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61USYD_INST/1c0ug48/alma991027147389705106|title=The dosimetry of a 61pm 147β-radiation source|publisher=University of Sydney|year=1965|type=M.Sc. Thesis|oclc=221182218}} He has a PhD in physics of surfaces from the University of New South Wales.{{Cite thesis|last=Fisher|first=Leonard Ross|title=Properties of curved liquid/vapour interfaces|publisher=University of New South Wales|year=1980|doi=10.26190/unsworks/7315 |type=Ph.D Thesis|hdl=1959.4/61664|hdl-access=free}}
Career
Fisher has been a visiting senior research fellow in the school of physics at the University of Bristol since 1992.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/len-fisher/10771308 |title=The Science Show |date=1 February 2019 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=Radio Australia}}{{cite web |url=
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2880-1152 |title=Len Fisher |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=ORCID}}
= Research =
In 1998, Fisher published a study on the optimal way to dunk a biscuit. The study concluded that 10 times more flavour is released from a biscuit if it has first been dunked in a hot drink. This research was funded by McVities.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/220400.stm |title=No more flunking on dunking |date=25 November 1998 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite journal|last1=Fisher |first1=L.|title=Physics takes the biscuit|journal=Nature|volume=397|pages=469|year=1999|doi=10.1038/17203|bibcode=1999Natur.397..469F |issue=6719|s2cid=4404966|doi-access=free}}
In 2000, Fisher studied the absorption of gravy by a roast dinner. He found that 700,000 litres of gravy is wasted every week in the UK when it is poured on food and not consumed.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1047698.stm |title=Gallons of gravy wasted |date=30 November 2000 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=BBC News}} He also calculated a gravy absorption index, and published a set of rules to maximise the absorption of gravy by food.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2000/nov/30/uknews |title=Physics bids to halt gravy drain |date=30 November 2000 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}} Following on from this work, in 2001, he researched the best bread to absorb gravy with, concluding that ciabatta soaks up the most.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1730817.stm |title=Gravy boffin uses his loaf |date=27 December 2001 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=BBC News}}
In 2003, Fisher produced a report for the British Cheese Board, titled "Optimum Use of Cheese in a Cheese Sandwich".{{cite report |author=Len Fisher |date=24 September 2003 |access-date=19 March 2021 |title=Optimum Use of Cheese in a Cheese Sandwich |url=https://www.lenfisherscience.com/the-optimum-cheese-sandwich/ |publisher=British Cheese Board}} He found that the optimum thickness for the filling in a cheese sandwich is dependent on the type of cheese used, and that the sandwich should be made with a light spread of butter or margarine to enhance the flavour of the cheese.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3171068.stm |title=Scientists 'perfect' cheese sandwich |date=7 October 2003 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=BBC News}} This research has drawn criticism for being 'frivolous'.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8270688.stm |title=Is there any point to 'frivolous' academic research? |date=24 September 2009 |access-date=19 March 2021 |author=Denise Winterman |work=BBC News}}
Publications
- How to Dunk a Doughnut: The Science of Everyday Life (2002)
- Weighing the Soul: The Evolution of Scientific Ideas (2004)
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life (2008){{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/is-israel-becoming-a-mafia-state/ |title=Is Israel becoming a mafia state? |author=Simona Weinglass |date=11 September 2017 |newspaper=The Times of Israel |access-date=19 March 2021}}
- The Perfect Swarm: The Science of Complexity in Everyday Life (2009){{cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/11/29/why_we_do_the_things_we_do/ |title=Why we do the things we do |author=George Scialabba |date=29 November 2009 |newspaper=Boston Globe |access-date=19 March 2021}}
- Crashes, Crises and Calamities: How We Can Use Science to Read the Early-Warning Signs (2011)
Awards
Fisher was presented with the Ig Nobel Prize for Physics, in 1999, for calculating the optimal way to dunk a biscuit.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/462987.stm |title=Brits take the biscuit |date=4 October 1999 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=BBC News}}
In 2004, Fisher was named Science Writer of the Year by the American Institute of Physics for How to Dunk a Doughnut: The Science of Everyday Life.{{cite news |url=https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/5860370/making-science-part-of-us/ |title=Communicating science: Dr Len Fisher's grand plan |author=Jennie Curtin |date=26 January 2019 |newspaper=Blue Mountain Gazette |access-date=19 March 2021}}
In 2019, Fisher was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to science.{{Cite web|title=Dr Leonard Ross Fisher|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2003394|access-date=21 March 2021|website=It's An Honour}}{{cite news |url=https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/17437973.scientist-given-australia-medal/ |title=Scientist given Australia medal |author=John Baker |date=16 February 2019 |newspaper=Wiltshire Times |access-date=19 March 2021}}
References
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Category:Academics of the University of Bristol
Category:Australian physicists
Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
Category:University of New South Wales alumni