Professor Dowson obtained his PhD from Leeds University for research into “Cavitation in Lubricating Films Supporting Small Loads” and later was appointed as Lecturer in 1954 and Professor of Engineering Fluid Mechanics and Tribology in 1966. In 1967 he founded The University of Leeds Institute of Tribology. During his tenure at Leeds University Professor Dowson also served as the Pro -Vice Chancellor (1983-1985); Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering (1987-1992) and the first Dean for International Relations (1988-1992).

Research interests include formative work on elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication and biotribology. Professor Dowson has published extensively and is the author or co-author of 4 Books and some 500 research papers. The research has been recognised by awards from UK and International Institutions; these include the Thomas Hawkesley Gold Medal of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1966, the British Society of Rheology’s Gold Medal for Applied Rheological Research (jointly with Professor Higginson) in 1969, the National Award of the ASLE in 1974, the ASME Lubrication Division’s Best Paper Award for 1975 and 1976, the ASME Melville Medal (all jointly with Professor Hamrock) and the ASME Mayo D Hersey Prize in 1979.

In 1974 Professor Dowson inaugurated the Leeds-Lyon Symposia on Tribology together with the late Professor Maurice Godet of INSA de Lyon. Until recently Professor Dowson was also Co-Editor of the Symposium Proceedings. He is the former Editor of Proceedings of IMechE-Part ‘C’, WEAR, Elsevier Tribology Books Series; IMechE Proceedings Part H-Engineering in Medicine and a current Member of Editorial Boards of Meccanica; Hip International; IMechE Proceedings Parts H and C. From 1992-1993 Professor Dowson served as the President of the IMechE.

Professor Dowson holds Honorary Academic positions at many UK Universities these include the University of Leeds, Cardiff University, Loughborough University and Imperial College London. In addition he has received Honorary Degrees from many UK and International Universities including: Chalmers (Sweden); INSA-Lyon, (France); Liege (Belgium); Waterloo (Canada); Bradford (U.K.); Leeds (U.K.) and Loughborough (U.K.).

In 1979 Professor Dowson received the Tribology Trust Gold Medal awarded by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers “In recognition of his outstanding contribution to tribology, especially in the field of elastohydrodynamic lubrication and the application of tribology to bio-engineering”