# Alan Burns

> British computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q4706284](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4706284)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Burns_(computer_scientist))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alan-burns

## Summary
Alan Burns is a British computer scientist and professor known for his long-standing academic role at the University of York and for research in programming languages and real-time control. He is a Doctor of Philosophy, a supervisor of multiple doctoral students, and a recognized fellow of several professional engineering and computing bodies.

## Biography
- Born: 1953
- Nationality: British
- Education: Doctor of Philosophy (degree noted; awarding institution not specified in source)
- Known for: Research in programming languages, computer programs, and real-time control
- Employer(s): University of York (Professor; employed since 1990)
- Field(s): Programming language, computer program, real-time control

## Contributions
The source material documents Alan Burns primarily as a researcher, educator, and academic leader in programming languages and real-time control. He has held a professorship at the University of York since 1990 and has awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree. He has supervised numerous doctoral students who completed research under his supervision, including named students such as Neil Audsley, Sasikumar Punnekkat, Iain John Bate, Hao Xu, Nan Chen, Xiaotian Dai, Shuai Zhao, Thomas David Fleming, Hing Choi Wong, and David Jack Griffin. His professional recognition includes election as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Computer Society, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology, signaling peer recognition of his research and professional impact. He is also a member of the UK Computing Research Committee. The source lists multiple academic and library authority identifiers (ISNI, VIAF, GND, ORCID-linked references, DBLP author ID, Google Scholar author ID), which document a substantial publication and citation footprint, though specific paper titles, patents, products, or standards are not enumerated in the provided material.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is Alan Burns?
A: Alan Burns is a British computer scientist and professor at the University of York, known for research and teaching in programming languages and real-time control.

### Q: Where does Alan Burns work?
A: He is a professor at the University of York and has been employed there since 1990.

### Q: What are Alan Burns's main research areas?
A: His listed fields of work are programming languages, computer programs, and real-time control.

### Q: Has Alan Burns received professional recognition?
A: Yes. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Computer Society, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

### Q: Has he supervised PhD students?
A: Yes. The source lists many doctoral students supervised by him, including Neil Audsley, Hao Xu, and several others.

## Why They Matter
Alan Burns matters in computer science as an established academic who has combined research, teaching, and supervision to shape the next generation of researchers in programming languages and real-time systems. His long-term professorship at the University of York (since 1990) provided a stable platform for both individual research and group mentoring. Election to fellowships in the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Computer Society, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology marks peer recognition of sustained technical contribution and professional leadership. Through supervision of doctoral students—some of whom are named in the source—he has contributed to the propagation of research methods and topics in real-time control and language design. His membership in the UK Computing Research Committee indicates engagement with national-level computing research policy and community deliberations. Without his combination of research, teaching, and professional service, the specific cohort of students he supervised and the institutional roles he filled at York and in UK computing bodies would have developed differently, potentially slowing some local advances in the study and practice of real-time systems and programming languages.

## Notable For
- Serving as Professor at the University of York, with employment at York recorded from 1990 onward.
- Research focus on programming languages, computer programs, and real-time control.
- Supervision of multiple doctoral students, including Neil Audsley and Hao Xu.
- Fellowships: Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering; Fellow of the British Computer Society; Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
- Member of the UK Computing Research Committee.

## Body

### Personal and identity data
- Full name: Alan Burns
- Family name: Burns
- Given name: Alan
- Sex/gender: Male
- Birth year: 1953
- Writing language / languages: English

### Education
- Academic degree recorded: Doctor of Philosophy.
- Specific awarding institution for the PhD is not specified in the provided material.

### Academic career and positions
- Employer: University of York.
  - Role: Professor (qualifier indicates professor status).
  - Start date at employer (qualifier): 1990-01-01.
- Member of the UK Computing Research Committee (listed membership).

### Research areas and output (as documented)
- Primary fields of work: programming language, computer program, and real-time control.
- The source documents a substantive publication and academic footprint through identifiers such as:
  - DBLP author ID: b/AlanBurns
  - Google Scholar author ID: KQm_HnIAAAAJ
  - ACM Digital Library author ID: 81100423292
- Specific paper titles, patents, software projects, or standards are not listed in the provided material.

### Supervision and mentorship
- Documented doctoral students supervised:
  - Neil Audsley
  - Sasikumar Punnekkat
  - Iain John Bate
  - Hao Xu
  - Nan Chen
  - Xiaotian Dai
  - Shuai Zhao
  - Thomas David Fleming
  - Hing Choi Wong
  - David Jack Griffin

### Honors and professional recognition
- Awarded fellowships:
  - Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
  - Fellow of the British Computer Society
  - Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology

### Authority control and identifiers (selected)
- ISNI: 0000000108583835
- VIAF ID: 69159901
- GND ID: 142542237
- ORCID-linked employment reference (in source references)
- DBLP author ID: b/AlanBurns
- Google Scholar author ID: KQm_HnIAAAAJ
- Freebase ID: /m/04g7p9
- Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 92459
- Wikipedia title: Alan Burns (computer scientist)

## Schema Markup
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  "nationality": {
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  "birthDate": "1953",
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  "description": "Alan Burns is a British computer scientist and professor at the University of York known for research and supervision in programming languages and real-time control."
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## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. [Source](https://www.york.ac.uk/computer-science/about/news/50-years/hods/alan-burns/)
4. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0001-5621-8816/employment/425145)
5. Mathematics Genealogy Project
6. [Source](https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/10925/)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. [Source](https://www.theiet.org/impact-society/thought-leadership/expert-panels/uk-computing-research-committee-ukcrc/members-of-ukcrc/ukcrc-members/)
10. CONOR.SI
11. IdRef
12. Trove
13. datos.bne.es