Roy Geddes (4 August 1940 – 25 August 2006), born Robert Geddes, was a Scottish-born New Zealand
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...
and
biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. They study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. Biochemists study DNA, proteins and Cell (biology), cell parts. The word "biochemist" is a portmanteau of ...
, and worked as Dean of Science and Engineering at
Auckland Institute of Technology
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) ( mi, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau) is a university in New Zealand, formed on 1 January 2000 when a former technical college (originally established in 1895) was granted university status. AUT ...
.
Early life and family
Born in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, Scotland, on 4 August 1940, Geddes was educated at
Holy Cross Academy. In 1965, he married Estelle Philomena O'Keeffe, and the couple went on to have four children.
They emigrated to New Zealand in 1970,
and Geddes was naturalised as a New Zealander in 1977.
University career
Geddes began his career in the Department of Biochemistry of the
University of Auckland
, mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work
, established = 1883; years ago
, endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021)
, budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)
, chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant
, vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...
as a senior lecturer in 1970, after obtaining BSc(Hons) and PhD degrees in chemistry from the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
, and postdoctoral fellowships in physical biochemistry at the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
(1967–69), and at
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private university, private research university in the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789 as Georg ...
,
Washington D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...
(1965–66).
In Auckland he investigated the structure and metabolism of glycogen, an energy storage polysaccharide, by physical biochemistry methods. His work provided evidence for the existence of a protein core, now known as glycogenin, within glycogen.
He was deputy Dean of Science from 1982 to 1985 at the University of Auckland and subsequently Dean from 1986 to 1993. In 1994, he moved to Auckland Institute of Technology as its Dean of Science and Engineering. During his term as Dean, his faculty acquired a modern and attractive building, and the Institute became
Auckland University of Technology
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) ( mi, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau) is a university in New Zealand, formed on 1 January 2000 when a former technical college (originally established in 1895) was granted university status. AUT ...
, a transformation to which Geddes contributed significantly.
Geddes served on
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
committees as a New Zealand representative and provided consultancy to
Ministry of Research, Science and Technology of New Zealand.
Friction stir welding
Geddes described himself as the catalyst, who had kicked off the industrialisation of
friction stir welding
Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process that uses a non-consumable tool to join two facing workpieces without melting the workpiece material. Heat is generated by friction between the rotating tool and the workpiece material ...
in New Zealand, after obtaining consultancy about the process at TWI (
The Welding Institute
The Welding Institute (TWI Ltd) is a research and technology organisation, with a specialty in welding. It has had headquarters near Cambridge, England, since 1946, and has other facilities across the UK and around the world. TWI works across a ...
) during a trip to the United Kingdom. While working at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) he teamed up with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), Marine Industry Association (MIA), ION Automotive NZ, Circa Marine & Industrial and Ullrich Aluminium, to disseminate and utilise the know-how. At this time in 2004 it was announced that a number of 55 metre
Protector-class inshore patrol vessel
The Lake-class inshore patrol vessel (also known as the ''Rotoiti'' class and the Protector class) is a ship class of inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and the Irish Naval Service which replaced the RNZN's s in ...
s would be procured for use by the
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...
and
Royal NZ Navy - and now the opportunity existed for both Australia and New Zealand to be involved in building them. The naval architect of these vessels specified that a significant portion of the structure had to be friction stir welded.
[Stephan Kallee]
"NZ Fabricators begin to use Friction Stir Welding to produce aluminium components and panels"
Twi-global.com. August 2006.
The collaborators made a concerted effort on bringing New Zealand up to speed in this field by co-operative technology transfer. In mid-2005, the Donovan Group in
Whangarei implemented friction stir welding for the manufacture of these vessels. The Donovan Group has since then modified a large CNC gantry milling machine to be used as a friction stir welding machine for large scale production, which is required for the patrol vessel building.
AUT developed the application of friction stir welding in the production of alloy wheel rims and structures using thick aluminium alloy plates. All of the FSW carried out by AUT has been achieved on existing manufacturing equipment that the university has modified, as opposed to custom-built friction stir welding machinery. Contractually, the industrial uptake of friction stir welding was comparatively easy in New Zealand, since the Australian/New Zealand Standard on 'Welding of aluminium structures' had been issued.
This was one of the first standards that covers friction stir welding, although it actually focuses on arc welding. It includes an innovation clause within its first section, which states that 'The Standard can be applied to other welding processes such as friction welding, including friction stir,
provided all requirements of the Standard are met, as well as specific constraints of needs, demands and operation of the individual welding processes.'
Honours
![New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal ribbon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/New_Zealand_1990_Commemoration_Medal_ribbon.png)
Geddes was awarded the
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
The New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal was a commemorative medal awarded in New Zealand in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and was awarded to approximately 3,000 people.
Background
The New Zea ...
, and in 1999 he was elected as one of the three inaugural Companions of the
Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a cit ...
.
In the
2002 New Year Honours
New Years' Honours are announced on or around the date of the New Year in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The dates vary, both from year to year and from country to country. All are published in supplements to the London Ga ...
, Geddes was appointed a
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...
, for services to science and technology education.
Death
Geddes died in
North Shore City
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north'' is ...
on 25 August 2006, aged 66. His ashes were buried at North Shore Memorial Park.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geddes, Roy
1940 births
2006 deaths
Friction stir welding experts
New Zealand biochemists
People educated at St Augustine's High School, Edinburgh
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Scientists from Edinburgh
Scottish emigrants to New Zealand
Naturalised citizens of New Zealand
University of Auckland faculty
Auckland University of Technology faculty
Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Burials at North Shore Memorial Park