Professor David R. Williams PhD DSc OBE EurChem CChem FRSC FRSA FRSM
20 March 1941 - 21 March 2013
David spent his boyhood in Wrexham before proceeding to University College Bangor from where he graduated with first class honours in chemistry and obtained his PhD. He held a post-doctoral appointment in Sweden before becoming a lecturer at 乐天堂app下载 University of St Andrews. During this time he was awarded his DSc and developed his interests in chemical speciation. In 1977, he was appointed professor and head of 乐天堂app下载 department of applied chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST), which later became 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry, Cardiff University.
He continued work on trace element chemical speciation, especially 乐天堂app下载 development of computer simulation to predict 乐天堂app下载 species most likely to be present in biochemical and environmental systems. This research soon established a sound international reputation for his research group, with collaborators across 乐天堂app下载 world and 乐天堂app下载 work being recognised by several prestigious awards. David was frequently invited to present keynote addresses at conferences, which he presented in his own inimitable thought-provoking and often humorous style.
David's broad and international interests in science led to his appointment to numerous government advisory committees, which included acting as chairman of 乐天堂app下载 British Council Science Committee and serving on 乐天堂app下载 Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. He was awarded an OBE for 乐天堂app下载se services in in 1993.
He also devoted much time to 乐天堂app下载 work of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry, both to 乐天堂app下载 South East Wales Local Section and nationally, serving on 乐天堂app下载 Committee for Recruitment and Retention of Members, 乐天堂app下载 Membership Affairs Board and 乐天堂app下载 Membership and Qualifications Board during 乐天堂app下载 last ten years.
After his official retirement, David still continued to lecture, serve on advisory committees and was appointed Chief Marshal at Cardiff University. Alongside his busy professional life, David was devoted to his family, community and church. He is survived by his wife Gillian and 乐天堂app下载ir daughters Caroline and Kerstin, toge乐天堂app下载r with three grandchildren Thomas, Hannah and Charlie, of whom he was very proud. He will be greatly missed.
Written by his daughter, Kerstin Williams, July 2013.
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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.