David Sowby

David Sowby (1926 – 2014) was born in Cumberland, United Kingdom on the 8^th of December 1926. He obtained a B.A. in Arts in 1944, and began his pre-medical training in August of the same year at the University of Dublin. With just one year left until his final year in medical school, he had to relocate to Toronto, Canada, when his father was appointed the principal of the prestigious Upper Canada College. Sowby eventually obtained his M.D. from the University of Toronto in 1951. He was a founding member of the Health Physics Society in 1956, and the Society for Radiological Protection in 1963.

Early in his career, Sowby joined Canada’s federal Department of Health. During this time, he assisted Alberta’s indigenous populations who were experiencing Tuberculosis meningitis epidemic. Because of his interest in public health, he subsequently moved to the radiation protection unit of the Department of Health in Ottawa in 1953. At this time, he was selected to join the membership of the then Committee V of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and was re-elected to the same position in 1959.

In 1962, Sowby became ICRP’s first full-time Scientific Secretary in London, UK, and would go on to hold this position for an incredible 24 years. As Scientific Secretary, he made terrific contributions towards organising and restructuring the ICRP. He developed administrative systems for the Commission, and grew its financial income base. Dr. Sowby helped to elevate ICRP to a truly global organization by broadening the Commission’s connections to the United Nations and other international organisations, and contributing to making the People’s Republic of China an active participant in the work of ICRP. He continued working for ICRP as a member of Committee 3 between 1985 and 1989.

Scientifically, Sowby equally contributed immensely to the body of knowledge in radiological protection. ICRP established its journal – Annals of the ICRP – during his tenure. He contributed to the drafting of the 1977 Recommendations of ICRP (Publication 26), authored a pioneering paper on risk comparisons, and contributed to the UNSCEAR 1972 Report, among other scientific contributions.

Sowby was a cheerful intellectual, as well as a sound administrator. He had moved back to Dublin after he again met Eve White (nee Webb), with whom he lived in Dublin until she died in 2008. During his later years in Dublin, Sowby continued to participate actively in advancing radiological protection. He strongly canvassed for the adoption of nuclear energy in Ireland. His participation in the Irish culture and folklore was also dearly felt, most notably his outstanding translation of two Irish literature into English Language.

David Sowby passed on peacefully on Wednesday, 12^th March, 2014.

REFERENCES:

ICRP. David Sowby. https://icrp.org/icrp_member.asp?id=%7b6B4DF774-DAC0-49FB-8771-8FD9C3039401%7d

Lindell, B., O’Riordan, M., and Valentin J. (2014). Obituary: David Sowby. J. Radiol. Prot. 34; 485–487

The Irish Times (2014). Doctor and Scientist who translated two Irish Classics into English. The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/doctor-and-scientist-who-translated-two-irish-classics-into-english-1.1733976