News & events


A tribute to Dr Maurice McDowell

Second Quarter 2008 News & events

It was with great sadness, that the team at Technews came to hear of the recent passing of Dr. Maurice McDowell, who passed away on Friday 23 May, 2008.

Maurice was involved in writing for Technews titles in one form of another for the better part of 23 years, and became an integral part of the Technews extended family, a loyal and committed professional whose contributions will be sorely missed. Maurice was a talented writer and highly respected technical journalist and consulting editor to several well-known publications, and as his colleague and friend Eric Milburn puts it, “there are many companies today, large and small, that were put on the map by a Maurice McDowell article.”

Maurice was born in Belfast, northern Ireland in 1945. After graduating from the Queens University of Belfast, with a BSc (1st class Hons) in 1967, Maurice entered post-graduate research at Queens under famed laser pioneer Professor Dan Bradley, finally obtaining his PhD (Optical Engineering) in 1971.

He joined the CSIR in Pretoria and was responsible for the creation of its world-leading optical design facility. Employed by the NPRL (National Physics Research Laboratory), he became chief research officer in 1976, senior chief research officer in 1979, head of the Optical Sciences Division in 1983, and deputy director and specialist researcher in 1984.

Whilst his own personal area of expertise was optical designs, evaluation and night vision systems, he was also intimately involved in laser and thin film technology as well as holography. During this period he acted as special consultant to Armscor on many occasions, and was affectionately referred to by the late Professor Louis van Biljoen, as Mr. Optics South Africa.

Maurice was appointed to the newly reorganised CSIR management team as director of the Division of Production Technology, his mission at the time to provide the essential R&D and technological back-up for South Africa’s manufacturing industry. Following the incorporation of this division into CSIR’s Aerotek, Maurice left the CSIR in late 1993, and soon afterwards he joined a local high-tech start-up company Measuring Instruments Technology (MIT) as shareholder and managing director.

He continued his close association with the measurement fraternity, publishing the The National Laboratory of South Africa and 20 years of Accreditation in South Africa.

Whilst engaged in his own business, Maurice continued to write for Technews publications, Dataweek and SA Instrumentation & Control (he has the unbeatable record of having over 200 articles published by Technews since 1985). He also developed the concept, along with Technews founding publisher Ray Beaumont, for Manufacturing Technology Today, which was launched in April 1994, and contributed regularly to Hi-Tech Security Solutions (which was launched in launched in 1995).

The simple truth that there was not a publication within Technews suite of products that was not editorially informed, in some fashion, through Maurice’s contributions, stands testament to his strengths as a technical journalist.

Maurice is survived by his wife Lilly, and three children Roisin, Bruce and Maurice Jnr. He was 63.





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Machine Tools Africa exhibition
News & events
Africa’s biggest machine tools exhibition is taking place from 21-24 May 2024 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec.

Read more...
WEG partners with Panaco in the DRC
Zest WEG Group Africa Editor's Choice News & events
The strengthened presence of WEG in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through its strategic alliance with ts value-added reseller (VAR) Panaco, has proved to be highly successful.

Read more...
Execution of the massive Azmet Reactor project DRC
Editor's Choice News & events
The Azmet Reactor project, a collaborative effort led by Viva Engineering, involved fabricating six massive reactors that were over three stories high in Gauteng, and then transporting these more than 2500 kilometres to a mine in the DRC - where all 3265 parts fitted perfectly, with not even one of the 26 900 bolts out of place. This was a massive achievement.

Read more...
From the editor's desk: The unhuman truth
Technews Publishing News & events
It‘s early in the year, and it‘s fun to see what the predictions are for 2024 in the industrial world. One thing for sure is that generative AI will be big. Among all the hype, an over-the-top app that ...

Read more...
SAFPA: From the President's desk
SA Fluid Power Association (SAFPA) News & events
Reflecting back on 2023, it was a busy year for the SAFPA committee.

Read more...
SAFPA: Technical evening
News & events
At a recent technical evening, SAFPA committee member, Russell Gill from Engineering & Hydraulic Services gave an interesting introduction to the field of fluid power.

Read more...
SAFPA: Soccer day
SA Fluid Power Association (SAFPA) News & events
The 2023 SAFPA six-a-side soccer tournament was a huge success.

Read more...
Young scientist invited to Nobel science seminar in Sweden
News & events
Crawford student, Brandon de Greef embarked on an extraordinary journey last December, with a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar during Nobel Week.

Read more...
ABB and Gravitricity to collaborate on energy storage systems
News & events
ABB has signed an agreement with UK-based gravity energy storage firm Gravitricity to explore how hoist expertise and technologies can accelerate the development and implementation of gravity energy storage systems in former mines.

Read more...
I-MAK shifts gear with successful roadshow
Bearings International News & events
In a strategic move to fortify its presence in South Africa, I-MAK, a premium brand under the umbrella of Bearings International (BI), recently embarked on a very successful countrywide roadshow.

Read more...