Ian William Wark, who was to become one of Australia's
most influential scientists, was born in Melbourne on 8 May 1899.
An excellent scholar, Ian Wark was offered a scholarship
to the Working Men's College (now RMIT),
but after his father's discussions with a leading consulting chemist,
Ian was enrolled at Scotch
College where his interest and considerable abilities in mathematics
and science were encouraged.
Having won a scholarship to the
University of Melbourne, Wark embarked on a degree in engineering
only to switch to science on account of a temporary health problem.
Being an outstanding student proved somewhat troublesome in that Wark
was undecided about whether to pursue chemistry, mathematics or physics,
but finally settled on chemistry. His excellent results enabled him
to win exhibitions in many subjects, although he did have to share
exhibitions in his first year with one Frank Macfarlane Burnet, future
Nobel Laureate.
Wark completed his MSc in 1920, and had commenced
research at the Electrolytic Zinc Company in South Melbourne, when
he won a research scholarship to undertake a PhD ñ in the UK, since
no PhD degree could be obtained in Australia at that time. His intention
was to study the new technique of mass spectrography at University
College, London, but essential equipment required for his research
failed to materialize and Wark's eventual study focussed on a series
of copper hydroxy-acid complexes, an area which was to become one
of his long-standing interests.
During his time in London, Wark took the opportunity
to travel in Europe, develop his cultural interests, take an active
role in sport and society activities, undertake extra courses, and
even spend some weeks in the X-ray laboratory of Nobel Laureate
William Bragg.
On his return to Australia, Wark was faced with
a choice between an industry position in Melbourne and an academic
one in Sydney. He chose the latter, and became lecturer in chemistry
at the University of Sydney,
until the offer of a position with his former employer, the E. Z.
Company, brought him back to Melbourne. Here, Wark was to grapple
with several major technical problems in industry, and gain an insight,
and a life-long interest, in the mining, metallurgical and mineral
industries.
From 1929 to 1939, Ian Wark gained an international
reputation for his research in mineral flotation and surface chemistry.
This research was proposed to Wark by the E.Z. Company's chief metallurgist,
H. Hey, after Wark's previous work had ceased following departure
of the Company's general manager. A consortium of mining companies
of Broken Hill agreed to support the work financially (although not
lavishly): despite much practical experience in the use of flotation,
they had little understanding of the scientific basis of the process.
Wark's work in this field was, remarkably, immediately successful
and consistently productive, despite his limited circumstances ñ he
had assistance only from his wife Elsie (a science graduate from Sydney)
and one funded research assistant (firstly, A.B. Cox, later, K.L.
Sutherland), and the three worked in accommodation subsequently described
as "appalling".
At the time Ian Wark commenced his research into
flotation and surface chemistry, there was little scientific understanding
of the process. Overseas investigators had undertaken substantial
research, but uncertainties in the results and inadequacies of interpretation
left researchers almost as much in the dark as they had been to begin
with. Selecting minerals of significance in the Broken Hill ore bodies,
and paying meticulous attention to experimental reliability, purification
of reagents and preparation of mineral surfaces so that reproducible
results could be obtained, Wark and his (small) team achieved results
of great significance and paved the way for further research.
Wark's initial study looked at the role of the
"collectors", reagents that promote contact between an air
bubble and a mineral surface to achieve flotability. Wark and Cox
discovered that a critical pH value existed for each collector/mineral
combination: if the pH value increased above this point, contact with
the air bubble ceased. The pH concentration relation, called a "contact
curve", was a significant innovation in flotation research, and
was developed and used universally to great effect.
Further research by the team investigated the role
of the "collector" reagents in fine detail and clarified
the meaning of contact curves. The practical incentive for the research
was the need to understand the conditions required for selective flotation
and to design methods for selective separation of particular mixes
of minerals. In addition, the strength of the experimental methods
prompted considerable further research internationally, particularly
in the USA, Germany and Russia.
In addition to the studies to establish practical
conditions for flotation, Wark's team investigated the physical chemistry
of the flotation process, and again published a ground-breaking paper
in the field, establishing the contact angle between the air bubble
and the particle surface as an appropriate means on which to base
flotability.
In 1939, Ian Wark joined the CSIR (now CSIRO)
to establish chemistry research for the benefit of Australian industry.
Although he ceased active research in mineral flotation from this
date, he retained a life-long interest in this field. In just ten
years of research, Wark had significantly influenced subsequent research
in this area, and his work has continued to have a major impact on
the development of this field. Wark was to maintain his association
with mineral research to the end of his life, working as an Honorary
Consultant to the CSIRO Minerals Research Laboratories group during
the 1970s and 1980s.
When Wark joined the CSIR, he intended to develop
a Division of Industrial Chemistry that would, among other objectives,
provide technical efficiency in established industries; stimulate
new industries; encourage use of raw materials of Australian origin;
and study national problems which it might alleviate through the expertise
and experience of its officers. With an emphasis on hiring outstanding
staff, the Division grew and gained a reputation for excellence from
an early stage. In 1961, Wark was appointed to the CSIRO Executive,
and during his tenure he served as Acting Chairman for a time.
At 65, Wark declined reappointment, and instead
became Chairman of the newly established Commonwealth Advisory Committee
on Advanced Education. In this post, he had considerable influence
on the development of the Colleges of Advanced Education (CAE) system;
over fifty such colleges were created and developed throughout Australia
during Wark's tenure as Chairman from 1965 to 1971.
During his life, Wark was involved actively with
learned societies and professional bodies, including the Australian
Chemical Institute (now the Royal
Australian Chemical Institute), of which he became President in
1958; the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement
of Science (ANZAAS);
and the Australian
Academy of Science, to which he was elected a Council member in
1959 and Treasurer from 1959 to 1963. Prompted by his belief that
applied scientists were under-recognised in scientific circles, Wark
played a significant role in the foundation of the Academy of Technological
Sciences (now Academy of Technological
Sciences and Engineering) in 1976, and became one of the foundation
Fellows of the Academy.
It has been written of Ian Wark that perhaps his
"outstanding characteristic was his inability to do nothing"
(AAS Biographical Memoir; ALG Rees), and outside of his long work
hours he filled his time with a wide variety of both cultural and
sporting interests. He excelled at a number of sports, including fly-fishing,
and created a trout fly which sold worldwide as "Dr Wark's Special".
Wark received a number of honours in recognition
of his contributions to science, including a knighthood (1969), the
H.G. Smith Medal (1933) and Leighton Medal (1966) of the Royal Australian
Chemical Institute, and the ANZAAS Medal (1966). A man of outstanding
accomplishment, Ian Wark is today fittingly commemorated by the
Ian Wark Laboratories of the CSIRO at Clayton; the Ian Wark Theatre
in the Australian Academy of Science complex; the
Ian Wark Research Institute at the University of South Australia,
and the Ian William
Wark Medal and Lecture of the Australian Academy of Science.
