Professor Edman Tsang

The Department of Chemistry is saddened to announce that our colleague, Professor Shik Chi Edman Tsang, died at the end of May in Hong Kong. He had been in hospital since being taken suddenly ill last Autumn.

Edman has been a loyal and successful member of the department for many years, and his friendship and scientific contributions will be remembered fondly by those who knew him.

Edman was Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry from 2007. Before this, Edman held research positions at the University of Reading, where he had completed his PhD in 1990. His main research interests were in nanomaterials and heterogeneous catalysis, focusing on research with applications in the fields of energy and the environment.

His expertise in the design and architecture of nanocatalysts, and their in situ diffraction and spectroscopic characterization, has lead to an increased understanding of catalytic surfaces and interfaces. He also founded OXGRIN, a spin-out company for the development and commercialisation of breakthrough catalytic technologies in green energy applications.

Professor Stephen Faulkner, Head of the Department of Chemistry, said: “Having known and worked with Edman for many years, I’ll miss him as both a friend and a colleague. His boundless enthusiasm for chemistry and life was contagious. His research was world-renowned and driven both by curiosity and the need to benefit the world. He has left us too soon, and leaves a legacy of science for the world, and memories for all of us who knew him.”

All of our thoughts are with his family and research group at this difficult time.