The UWI (University of the West Indies) Community mourns the passing of Dr. Anthony Achong who passed away on June 29, 2020. Dr.  Achong was an academic who devoted much of his research to steelpan technology.

He began his academic career in UWI Mona in 1970 where he started as a Part-Time Tutor in 1970 and then worked his way up to become a Lecturer in Physics in 1975 where he remained in that post until 1977. He came to The UWI St. Augustine as a Physics Lecturer in 1977 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2005. In 2002, he was appointed as Head of the Department of Physics and served in that position until 2007.

Dr Achong's research interests were widely varied including: Screening methods for the detection of scoliosis, using Moire; Topography (medical physics); moisture adsorption/desorption properties of Tropical Woods (solar energy); astronomy and cosmology among other topics.

He is best known for his major research interest, focused on the Physics of Steelpan. In 2013, he wrote “Secrets of the Steelpan: Unlocking the Secrets of the Science, Technology, Tuning of the Steelpan.” This work is widely cited and made Dr. Achong acknowledged by many as the “world’s top authority” in the specialised field of scientific analysis of steelpan instruments.

May he rest in peace.

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