Renfrey Potts

Ren Potts
Born(1925-10-04)4 October 1925
Adelaide, South Australia
Died9 August 2005(2005-08-09) (aged 79)
Adelaide, South Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma materThe University of Adelaide
Oxford University
Known forPotts model
Ising-type models in mathematical physics
Car-following and traffic flow
Operations research, especially networks
Difference equations
Robotics
AwardsANZIAM Medal (1995)
Scientific career
FieldsMathematician
InstitutionsThe University of Adelaide
Doctoral advisorCyril Domb

Renfrey Burnard (Ren) Potts AO (1925–2005) was an Australian mathematician and is notable for the Potts model and his achievements in: operations research, especially networks; transportation science, car-following and road traffic; Ising-type models in mathematical physics; difference equations; and robotics. He was interested in computing from the early days of the computing revolution and oversaw the first computer purchases at the University of Adelaide.