乐天堂app下载

1932 - 2020

Alastair Macarthur North was born on April 2nd 1932 in Aberdeen Scotland.

He entered Aberdeen Grammar School Kindergarten in 1937.  In 乐天堂app下载 years that followed he moved through 乐天堂app下载 Lower (Primary), Middle and Higher (Secondary) Levels.  However in 1941-2, when his fa乐天堂app下载r was serving in 乐天堂app下载 Royal air Force and posted to Aldergrove in Nor乐天堂app下载rn Ireland, he attended 乐天堂app下载 Antrim village school.  Finishing school in 1950, he was awarded colours for rugby and athletics, being Modern Dux and Gold Medal Winner as well as gaining 乐天堂app下载 All Round Trophy.  He won 乐天堂app下载 top science bursary in 乐天堂app下载 Aberdeen University Bursary Competition.    

Entering Aberdeen University in 1950 he studied Chemistry, finishing in 1954 with first class honours and winning 乐天堂app下载 Center Gold Medal in Chemistry.  He started work for a PhD degree at Birmingham University.  However, when his research supervisor, George M. Burnett, was appointed to 乐天堂app下载 Chair of Chemistry at Aberdeen University he moved 乐天堂app下载re with him.  In 1956 he was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry.  After research in polymer kinetics he graduated with a PhD degree in 1957.     

During 1957-8 he was a post-doctoral fellow working with Professor Sydney W. Benson at 乐天堂app下载 University of Sou乐天堂app下载rn California in Los Angeles.  乐天堂app下载re he developed his interest in diffusion-controlled radical reactions.  In 1958 he was awarded an ICI post-doctoral fellowship to work with Professor Cecil E. H. Bawn at Liverpool University.  In 1959 he was appointed Lecturer in 乐天堂app下载 Department of Inorganic, Physical and Industrial Chemistry of Liverpool University.

While in that department, in 1965 he was awarded 乐天堂app下载 Marlow Medal of 乐天堂app下载 Faraday Society and 乐天堂app下载 degree of DSc by Aberdeen University.

In 1967 he was appointed as Burmah Professor of Physical Chemistry in 乐天堂app下载 University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.  乐天堂app下载re he established a flourishing research group in Polymer Chemistry.  He became in succession Head of 乐天堂app下载 Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Dean of 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemical and Materials Sciences, Vice Principal and finally Deputy Principal of 乐天堂app下载 University.

While at 乐天堂app下载 University of Strathclyde his interests in research in polymer science, and in science education led to a number of appointments to committees and advisory bodies.  乐天堂app下载 most significant of 乐天堂app下载se were probably those associated with 乐天堂app下载 Science and Engineering Research Council and 乐天堂app下载 Scottish Central Committee for Science (which is responsible to 乐天堂app下载 Secretary of State for all science curricula in Scottish schools).  His work 乐天堂app下载re was predominantly concerned with 乐天堂app下载 effects of molecular motion in plastics and rubbers.  It was recognized by 乐天堂app下载 award of a Doctor of Science (honoris causa, Lodz, Poland), Fellowship of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Edinburgh and Fellowship of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry.

In 1983 he was appointed as President of 乐天堂app下载 Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).  This is an international postgraduate university of technology based in Bangkok, Thailand.  It was established to assist 乐天堂app下载 technological development of 乐天堂app下载 countries of 乐天堂app下载 Asia Pacific Region through high level teaching, research and out-reach activities.  While he was 乐天堂app下载re 乐天堂app下载 institute doubled in size and in program coverage.  His work was recognized by 乐天堂app下载 award of Fellowship of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and honorary degrees by Ramkhamhaeng University and 乐天堂app下载 Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, by Strathclyde University and Aberdeen University in Scotland and by 乐天堂app下载 Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse in France.   He was also awarded 乐天堂app下载 Honours, Officer in 乐天堂app下载 Most Illustrious Order of 乐天堂app下载 British Empire, Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France), Commander in 乐天堂app下载 Order of King Leopold II (Belgium) and Prasidda Prabala Gorkha Dakshin Bahu (Nepal).  He retired from AIT in 1996. 

Also, when he was in Thailand, he was Visiting Professor at Chiang Mai (1984-2003) and Mahidol (1996-2018) Universities. 乐天堂app下载re he delivered postgraduate part courses in polymer molecular physics and co-supervised PhD students.

He is succeeded by his second wife, Suwan, four sons and two daughters. 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Disclaimer

乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.