Professor Stig Erik Friberg died on September, 13, 2018. Stig was a pioneer in colloid chemistry and a highly respected member of the international chemistry community. With Stig we have lost a colleague and dear friend.
Professor Stig Erik Friberg was born in the small community of Rimforsa in Sweden 88 years ago. Back in these days in the rather poor countryside of Sweden, it was far from self-evident that gifted youngsters of the family could be guaranteed a higher education. Stig handled this situation in a way characteristic for him. He extended his work hours to midnight by taking up extra evening courses. He completed his basic education and received a scholarship, which facilitated his university studies at Stockholm University, where he graduated as MSc in chemistry. After graduation, he took up a position as researcher at FOA (Research Institute for National Defense) in Stockholm. Stig defended his PhD in 1966 based on work at FOA on organic aluminum-complexes in solution.
After his successful defense more demanding duties in the Swedish community waited for Stig. He was appointed director of the Swedish Institute for Surface Chemistry (YKI) which had been established by Professor Per Ekwall in 1965. Stig´s primary duty was to expand the institute to a central resource for surface and colloid chemistry in Sweden and internationally. YKI had had a handful of coworkers in the mid and late 1960s under Ekwall. With Friberg in charge, the institute expanded to over 60 employees and about 60 industrial member companies affiliated with and financially committed to the institute.
As the director of the YKI Stig Friberg was actively involved in both basic and applied research. Stig continued the YKI traditions in the field of phase diagrams of water, surfactant and oil. An important application of these studies was the extension to involve the stability of emulsions with complex interfaces built up by a lamellar liquid crystal. Later important contributions involved microemulsions and their structures.
After having built up a successful Swedish institute, Stig Friberg was invited to a position as full professor in chemistry at University of Rolla, Missouri, USA in 1976.
In Rolla Stig continued his research on phase diagrams and structures in systems of water, oil and surfactant. With his new position, Stig reached a larger market for his research and consequently he strengthened his international position as a leading colloid chemist. After 12 years in Rolla Stig was ready for new challenges and this time at the prestigious Clarkson University in Potsdam USA. This university could now add another renowned professor to continue its traditions in the field of fine particle research founded by Professor Egon Matijevic. Stig held this position until his retirement in the year 2000. After retirement, Stig continued his research in the field of fundamentals of emulsions, wetting, phase equilibria and Janus particles. Stig´s large interest for science was documented by his devoted engagement to contribute to the development of fundamental surface and colloid chemistry. He published significant contributions until his last days.
An impressive number of students have taken their master and PhD degrees under the supervision of Professor Stig Friberg. All in all almost 40 students completed their studies for Friberg in Rolla and Potsdam. In addition to his supervision activity Stig had an enormous publication record. His CV contains over 600 original scientific papers in international journals. He edited 6 books and contributed as speaker to over 180 conferences. Stig was also the founding editor-in-chief for Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, which is nowadays a highly recognized journal in the field of surface and colloid chemistry. The international community highly recognized the research by Prof Friberg. He is doctor honoris causa from Sweden, Finland and Japan. He has been awarded all prestigious American Awards in Colloid Chemistry for outstanding contributions in teaching and research. Among these one should mention The Kendall Award, The Langmuir Distinguished Lecturer Award, The Maison G De Navarre Award etc. In 1997 the prestigious W Ostwald Award was given to Stig by The German Colloid Society.
I have had the privilege of collaborating with Stig during the past 30 years. During this period I have learned to respect him as a brilliant scholar, a devoted scientist and a gentleman of unique dimensions. We share memories of hard work with progress in science, joyful moments over unforgettable dinners all over the world, hot and humid sauna evenings and long transatlantic flights, etc. Normally we concluded: “God bless science and especially the professors in colloid chemistry”.
At this moment, our thoughts go to Stig´s family, wife Susan and the daughters Katarina and Kristina and their families.
Stig, on behalf of all your friends all over the world, rest in peace!
Ugelstad Laboratory
NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
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