Of Sound Mind: Life and Work of a Naval Scientist

Alan Parsons had a long and distinguished career as a naval scientist. This book covers his genealogy and his life from childhood to retirement, during which he had successes, failures, joys and sorrows. After a first degree in mathematics and a false start as an actuarial student, he returned to university to research for a PhD. His thesis on Gulf Stream circulation was seminal, and probably the best work he ever did. For the next fifty years he worked in UK government laboratories and industry on problems mainly concerned with underwater acoustics and submarine detection, for which he received some accolades. He retired in 2003 "in situ" and managed to continue working and fulfilling his enjoyable duties at Birmingham University where he remains an honorary professor. This book was written so that his young family would have a record of what he did in his life.