Sir Gareth Gwyn Roberts FRS FREng[1] (16 May 1940 – 6 February 2007[2]) was a Welsh[3] physicist specialising in semiconductors and molecular electronics, who was influential in British science policy through his chairmanship of several academic bodies and his two reports on the future supply of scientists and how university research should be assessed.
[5] He went back into industry in 1985 as director of research at Thorn EMI plc, and was appointed to a visiting professorship in the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford and to a Fellowship at Brasenose College in 1986.
In June 2006 he was elected chairman to Engineering and Technology Board, succeeding Sir Peter Williams.
[11] The report set out thirty-seven recommendations to the Government, employers and other organisations about how to maintain and develop the supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematical skills into research and industry.
These included providing additional resources for schools, universities and research bodies, and the promotion of school/business links.
[12] The review led to increase of the stipend paid to PhD students, and a number of initiatives to encourage women and young people to consider a career in science.
[16] His second wife, Carolyn Mary Rich, née Butler (b.1948), was a health service executive, trained nurse and daughter of Albert Edward Butler, a musician, and former wife of Stephen Rich, whom he married at Leeds register office on 18 February 1994.