| Authorised form of name | Clark; Robin Jon Hawes (1935 - 2018) |
| Dates | 1935 - 2018 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Place of birth | Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Date of birth | 16/02/1935 |
| Date of death | 06/12/2018 |
| Research field | Chemistry |
| Activity | Education:
Christ's College, New Zealand; Canterbury University BSc (1956) MSc (1958); University College, London
Career:
Sir William Ramsay Professor of Chemistry, University College London
Awarded the inaugural Franklin-Lavoisier Prize by the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF: Philadelphia, PA) and the Foundation de la Maison de la Chimie (Paris, France) 28 January 2009.
Memberships:
Hon Fellow RSNZ (1989); Hon DSc for services to science from Caterbury University (2001); Lifetime Achievement Award at the New Zealander of the Year Awards in Britain (2004); CNZM (2004)
|
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 15/03/1990 |
| Age at election | 55 |
| RSActivity | Royal Society roles:
Council: 1993-1994
Lectures:
UK-Canada Rutherford 2000; Bakerian Lecture 2008 |
| OtherInfo | Robin was a chemist renowned for his syntheses and characterisation of transition metal and mixed-valence complexes, and the development of spectroscopic techniques for use at the arts–science interface. Through imaginative development of Raman microscopy, Robin had shown how to characterise pigments used in artwork and the ready identification of forgeries. Through over 500 original publications, 36 books (as author or editor) and many public lectures, he had exerted a major influence on science- and arts-based researchers seeking to better understand and restore artworks.
Robin was a member of many prestigious societies, including the American Philosophical Society and the Royal Institution, where was is an Honorary Fellow. He was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004, shortly after receiving the Sidney Medal from the Royal Society of New Zealand (of which was also an Honorary Fellow). He received the Marci Medal, the Franklin–Lavoisier Prize and the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Sir George Stokes Award, as well as presented its Tilden, Nyholm, Liversidge and Thomas Graham lectures.
Professor Robin Clark CNZM FRS died on 6 December 2018. |
| Source | References:
Robin J H Clark and Michael J Kelly, 'New Zealand, New Zealanders and the Royal Society' in NR 1994 vol 48 pp 263-281 |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/17286392 |
| Code | NA7574 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| EC/1990/06 | Clark, Robin Jon Hawes: certificate of election to the Royal Society | 1984 |
| IM/000855 | Clark, Robin Jon Hawes | 1990 |