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In memory of Dr Anthony Heathcote Clemens: 18 July 1950 - 19 February 2010
25 February 2010
CRL
Energy’s General Manager of Research, Dr Tony Clemens, was a man who punched well above his weight on the international stage of scientific endeavour. The world became a lesser place when he died suddenly on
19 February 2010
at age 59. Tony was born and raised in
Christchurch
and attended the
University
of
Canterbury
. Work for CRL Energy later saw him settle in the
Hutt
Valley
. At the time of his death he was
CRL
Energy’s top research scientist, was one of the leaders of
New Zealand
’s hydrogen research programme, and was working on ways in which carbon dioxide (CO2) could be stored underground in unminable coal seams.
Tony collected numerous awards during his career, the latest was just last year, when an international research team that included Tony collected an “Honourable Mention for Technology” at the September 2009 Pittsburgh International Coal Conference – one of only three papers to be honoured at the conference.
The award was for a scientific paper on the processes that occur when CO2 is injected into various coal types. The research was carried out at the US Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, where the researchers could use the synchrotron to study what happens at the atomic level to the pore spaces (tiny holes) in coal if deep unminable coal seams are used as part of geosequestration (the capture and storage of CO2 in geological structures).
On the hydrogen front, Tony believed it was important for
New Zealand
and the rest of the world to have alternative, non-polluting, low carbon technologies available so that we are not so reliant on petrol, diesel, and oil. He drafted numerous discussion papers for Government and fellow researchers showing how
New Zealand
could make the transition to hydrogen, if hydrogen became part of this country’s energy strategy, particularly to provide fuel for cars of the future.
During his studies on hydrogen he travelled around the world, especially to countries such as
Iceland
where they are planning to run the public bus system on hydrogen. He also drove a hydrogen car in
Germany
.
Hisresearch looked at ways to produce hydrogen, ranging from using surplus electricity to split hydrogen from water, generating it from coal, to producing it from methane from digester systems making use of effluent from dairy farms.
Tony was behind the successful Government-funded project to build a coal gasifier to produce hydrogen, his research team at CRL Energy worked in collaboration with IRL (Industrial Research Limited), which has expertise in fuel cells - a type of battery which runs on hydrogen.
This huge blue machine housed at
CRL
Energy in Gracefield uses ‘fluidised bed coal gasification’ technology to make a pure stream of hydrogen from coal, and potentially from biomass such as wood waste. This facility will now be dedicated to Tony.
Tony also conducted ground-breaking research with his discovery of the autocatalytic properties of
South Island
lignite; this has itself catalysed billion dollar projects now planned in Southland.
A catalyst is something that makes things happen, without being changed itself. And that’s a good description of Tony. He had a wonderful ability to make things happen but he always stayed the same affable and friendly gentleman.
Tony received his BSc(Hons) and PhD in Organic Chemistry at the
University
of
Canterbury
. He then moved to
Northwestern
University
in
Evanston
,
Illinois
, where he was a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Chemistry. Here he identified a new type of reaction mechanism, and designed and initiated a new line of experimentation which continued to provide research opportunities for the next 15 years. Next Tony moved to the University College of London where he was a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Chemistry. Here he initiated and performed a series of experiments to successfully resolve a long-standing dispute regarding an important reaction mechanism in organic chemistry.
As well as a scientist Tony was a prolific artist. Several of his paintings are on display at CRL Energy, as well as in the homes of friends and colleagues. He enjoyed painting scenes of
Lower Hutt
and reinventing the work of old masters, often with humorous details blended into the background. He also liked to play the piano, sometimes too late at night according to friends and family. He had a passion for cricket and attended games every summer; he would be heartbroken to have missed
New Zealand
’s nail-biting victory over
Australia
at the one day international in Napier.
His diverse talents will be sorely missed in the energy sector. Tony is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Stacey, and mother Noeleen.
CRL
Energy staff, fellow scientists from Crown Research Institutes throughout
New Zealand
, friends, and family farewelled Tony at a moving ceremony on Tuesday, 23 February 2010 at the St James' Church in
Lower Hutt
. In typical Tony style his daughter read poems by Spike Milligan and his coffin was carried from the church to the refrains of Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
A memorial service was also held in
Christchurch
at the Kerrs Road Chapel in Linwood. Tony will be buried at
Hillcrest
Memorial Park
in
Streator
,
Illinois
USA
, near his wife’s family. CRL Energy wishes to thank the scientific community for the numerous expressions of sympathy and condolences we have received.
A bit of Tony's farewell song
For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.
And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the right side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...
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