Robert Silver

Robert Simpson Silver CBE (1913–1997) was a Scottish physicist and mechanical engineer known for his work in desalination. He was awarded the Unesco Prize for Science in 1968 for his discovery of a process for the demineralisation of sea water, revolutionizing the field. Silver's thermodynamic analysis, now known as 'Second Law Analysis,' showed that reverse osmosis and 'multi-stage flash' methods were the optimal processes for water purification. He designed and implemented the first operational large-scale multi-stage flash installation in Kuwait. Silver was born in Montrose, Angus on 13 March 1913 and had an impressive academic background, holding multiple degrees and prestigious memberships in various scientific institutions.