Obituary of Howard Tomio See

Howard Tomio See, was born on 28 July 1963 in Sydney, Australia. He was a scholarly gifted student from the beginning. He went to a selective high school (Sydney Technical High School) in Bexley and then entered the University of Sydney to study Pure and Applied Mathematics. He graduated in 1984 with a BSc degree and then obtained his second degree in Mechanical Engineering with a University Medal in 1986. Briefly after graduation, Howard was awarded a “Monbukagakusho” (Japanese Government) scholarship and went to Japan to continue his graduate studies. Howard had a Japanese heritage from his mother’s side and this helped him to perfect his reading and writing in Japanese in a few months. By then he had developed an interest in rheology, the science of flow and deformation, and joined the research group of distinguished polymer physicist and rheologist Masao Doi at Tokyo Metropolitan and then Nagoya University in Japan. He obtained a Masters degree in Physics from Tokyo Metropolitan University followed by his PhD degree in 1993 from Nagoya University. Roger Tanner, a distinguished rheologist and Howard’s mentor, recalls Howard used his Japanese skills to translate some of the works of Masao Doi into English. Howard met his wife Yanan, while he was still doing his PhD and they got married soon afterward in 1989.

After completion of his PhD, he worked as a Research Engineer for Bridgestone Corp. in Japan, where he developed a strong interest in suspension rheology and field-responsive materials and technology particularly in electrorheological fluids. His research work in Bridgestone resulted in several patents which won him the Fundamental Technology Prize from Bridgestone. While he was in Japan, he met Roger Tanner, his former professor back in Sydney, at a rheology conference and decided to return to Australia to pursue an academic career. I met Howard for the first time when he visited Sydney. At that time he was applying for a University of Sydney U2000 fellowship. I still remember when he walked into my office and introduced himself. He was the kind of person who left a positive impression from the beginning. Howard’s fellowship application was successful and he joined our rheology research group at the University of Sydney (School of AMME) in 1998. Howard made his mark on our research group very soon; he was always part of an enthusiastic group of people who made stimulating and encouraging discussions during our regular meetings.

Howard was a truly interdisciplinary intellectual with multiple degrees in mathematics, engineering and physics. In 2001 he joined the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as a Senior Lecturer. During his 9 years tenure in the school he made significant contributions to every aspect of School’s activities and rose through the ranks to become an associate professor. Tim Langrish, the head of the school remembers Howard as “a scholar and a gentleman, the nicest of the nice, and a selfless colleague. An outstanding teacher and researcher, he was a real pillar of the School’s administration”. Howard was a dedicated and considerate mentor and supervisor towards his graduate students and research team. David Kittipoomwong, a postdoctoral researcher whom Howard recruited from Daniel Klingenberg research group in Wisconsin USA, recalls many fond memories of his dedication and selflessness in helping him to settle in Australia. He treated his team as part of his family. Bjornar Sandnes, a visiting scholar and research fellow from Norway, tells similar stories of Howard’s generosity and willingness to go out of his way to help.

Despite his change of location, Howard maintained strong relations and collaboration with the rheology group at AMME, his home school. This led to several joint research projects between our groups. Howard was well known in rheology circles. He was a council member of Australian Society of Rheology (ASR) and also a member of Society of Rheology (SOR). Billy Todd, the President of the ASR, in a message to members recognizes his contributions, “Howard was loved and respected by many friends and colleagues and his contribution to the ASR was outstanding”. Howard was also on the editorial boards of the Korea-Australia Rheology Journal and also the Journal of Society of Rheology Japan. Howard developed a strong reputation based on his advances in the area of microstructure in particle suspensions, with particular focus on field-responsive suspensions, the so called electro/magneto rheological fluids. He made significant contributions in elucidating the relationship between rheological properties and microstructural properties of the aggregates formed in these suspensions. In 2001 He received Society of Rheology Japan Shourei (“Encouragement”) Award for his contributions. In 2008 Howard accepted the challenge to organize the 5th Australian-Korean Rheology conference in Sydney. During 15 months leading up to the conference, Howard, Roger Tanner and I worked closely to organize this international conference on the Sydney University campus. However, Howard as the conference chair was the real driving force. He was a meticulous organizer and, as a result of his tireless efforts, we had a very successful conference. The picture here is taken on the conference excursion (4 Nov 2009) to see Sydney Harbour.

Howard thought of his job at the university as a “lifestyle”, and indeed he had dedicated his life to the two things he loved the most: his family and the university. Howard passed away after a normal working day at the university from an aortic dissection on Monday 15 Feb, 2010. He will be sorely missed by all of us who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife Yanan, sons Andrew and Michael, father Graeme, mother Mihoko and brother David.