Professor Robin Clark (1935–2018), a Canterbury graduate and Chairman of the New Zealand Universities Graduates’ Association’s UK branch, has distinguished himself at the highest levels of international chemistry.
Born in Rangiora in 1935, Robin gained a BSc (1955) and MSc with first-class honours (1957) at the University of Canterbury. He became a national and senior national Fellow.
Robin went on to the University of Otago in 1958, where he was a research and teaching fellow. He then spent three years at the University College of London.
In 1969, he gained his DSc at the University of London. He began his academic career at the University College of London in 1962 as an assistant lecturer. By 1988, Robin was the Dean of Science. He has held the position of head of the chemistry department from 1989 and since then has been the Sir William Ramsay Professor.
Since 1965, Robin has held many visiting professorships and given five named lectures throughout the world. He has authored or co-authored around 420 publications, given 138 lectures at conferences, co-authored around 80 posters, attended more than 300 academic conferences or seminars and lectured in 33 countries. He has received 13 honours from the scientific and academic communities, including honours from the Royal Society of Chemistry, Academia Europaea, the Royal Society of Arts and the Czech Spectroscopy Society.
Robin’s chief appointments include being Chairman of the XI International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy in 1988 and Chairman of XI International’s International Steering Committee between 1992 and 1994. He is deeply involved with the Royal Society, the Royal Institution, the University of London and the University College of London.
Citation authorised as true and correct at April 2001.
