Dr. Digby Macdonald was a world-renowned electrochemist and Professor-in-Residence in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Born in New Zealand, he earned his BSc and MSc in Chemistry from the University of Auckland in 1965 and 1966 respectively, followed by a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Calgary in 1969. His distinguished academic career spanned multiple prestigious institutions including The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University where he served as Distinguished Professor and directed the Center for Electrochemical Science and Technology, and finally UC Berkeley where he joined in 2012. Prior to his academic appointments, Macdonald held significant leadership roles including Laboratory Director of the Chemistry Laboratory and Materials Research Laboratory, and Deputy Director of the Physical Sciences Division at SRI International from 1984 to 1991.
Macdonald pioneered innovative kinetic models to interpret electrochemical impedance spectra and was instrumental in establishing the validity of measured electrochemical impedance spectra through his groundbreaking application of Kramers-Kronig Transforms. His research fundamentally advanced the fields of corrosion science and electrochemical systems, laying crucial foundations for improvements in energy storage, battery design, nuclear reactor safety, and advanced materials development. With over 900 publications to his name, including the influential book Transient Techniques in Electrochemistry and nine patents, Macdonald's scholarly output was both prolific and profoundly impactful. His ability to bridge rigorous mathematical modeling with real-world engineering applications made his work exceptionally valuable to both theoretical researchers and industrial practitioners seeking practical solutions to corrosion and electrochemical challenges.
Beyond his technical contributions, Macdonald mentored numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, generously sharing his expertise and shaping the next generation of electrochemists and corrosion scientists. His collaborative spirit extended to his wife, Professor Mirna Uquidi-Macdonald, with whom he co-authored many of his most cherished publications, demonstrating his commitment to collaborative scientific inquiry. Macdonald's professional recognition included prestigious honors such as the Frumkin Memorial Medal of the International Society of Electrochemistry, the U.R. Evans Award from the Institute of Corrosion, and the H.H. Uhlig Award from The Electrochemical Society, with his nomination for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011 underscoring the global significance of his work. Though he passed away in June 2025 at the age of 81, his methodologies, theoretical frameworks, and practical approaches continue to influence corrosion science and electrochemistry worldwide, ensuring his enduring legacy in these critical scientific disciplines.
