MacDiarmid Institute Tribute To Paul Callaghan

MacDiarmid Institute Governance Board Press Release: Paul Callaghan

The Board and members of the MacDiarmid Institute are greatly saddened at the passing of Professor Sir Paul Callaghan, who died at home today, 24 March 2012.

Paul attracted widespread international recognition, winning many science prizes and accolades. He was a Fellow of both the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Royal Society of London. He became a Knight Grand Companion of the Order of New Zealand in 2009 and was New Zealander of the year in 2011.

Paul was the inspiration and founding Director of the Institute, which carries out research into advanced materials and nanotechnology. He was also a member of its Board and Chair of its International Advisory Panel. But he was much more than that. He was a man of passionate interests and boundless energy. He found time for a personal interest and friendship with all those he worked with, from students he supervised, to colleagues he debated with, and to friends he inspired and loved.

He loved to debate. He was an articulate and persuasive speaker and his passion was to see a brighter and stronger future for New Zealand. The greatest tribute we in the MacDiarmid Institute can pay him is to celebrate the magnificent difference that one man has made to this country and to rise to the challenges that he inspired us all with.

The MacDiarmid Institute Board:
Steve Thompson (Chair), Professor David Bibby, Dr Frank Bruhn, Dr Robert Buckley, Professor Paul Callaghan, Professor Don Cleland, Professor Charles Daugherty, Professor Jan Evans-Freeman, Mr Murray Price, Professor Vernon Squire, Dr Geoff Todd, Professor Kathryn McGrath, Professor Shaun Hendy, Professor Simon Brown.

For those wishing to send a condolence message or express their thoughts a website has been set up, http://paultcallaghan.wordpress.com/.

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