In Memoriam Prof. Dr. Alexander Bradshaw (1944-2024)

The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) mourns the loss of its former Scientific Director, who passed away on 10 October 2024 at the age of 80.

Prof. Bradshaw headed the IPP as Scientific Director from 1999 to 2009.

Alexander Bradshaw was born on 12 July 1944 in the small town of Bushey in Great Britain. He studied chemistry at Queen Mary College, University of London, where he also completed his doctorate in 1969. In 1974, he habilitated at the Technical University of Munich. From 1976, he worked at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin. In 1980, Alexander Bradshaw was appointed director and scientific member of the Max Planck Society there. He headed the Department of Surface Physics at the Fritz Haber Institute. He made an international name for himself in this field. He worked in the field of vibrational spectroscopy and photoemission and developed instruments for this purpose, in particular for the use of synchrotron radiation. From 1981 to 1989, he was Scientific Director of the Berlin Electron Storage Ring Society for Synchrotron Radiation (BESSY), which operates the large-scale experiment BESSY.

In 1999, Alexander Bradshaw moved to the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, where he headed the nuclear fusion research programme as Scientific Director until his retirement in 2009. This period was marked by the development of the new stellarator experiment Wendelstein 7-X in Greifswald. His talent as a science manager was in demand here: when the major project ran into difficulties at one point, he created structures that got Wendelstein 7-X back on track. In addition, as Chair of the EFDA Steering Committee, Alexander Bradshaw played a crucial role in optimally coordinating European fusion research.

From 1998 to 2000, he served as president of the German Physical Society. He was also a member of several scientific academies, including the British Royal Society, the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) and the National Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech). Prof. Bradshaw has received many honours for his successful work: Germany awarded him the Federal Cross of Merit in 2002. In 2007, the United Kingdom honoured him with the knighthood ‘Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’. He was an honorary doctor of the University of London and an honorary fellow of the British Institute of Physics.

After his retirement, Alexander Bradshaw continued to work as a scientist, dealing with issues of energy supply, the availability of natural resources and sustainability.

Alexander Bradshaw will always be remembered with gratitude and honour at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. He has achieved great things – for the institute and for fusion research.

The funeral will take place with close family and friends.

We have set up a condolence page for Alexander Bradshaw.