We have lost a great scientist, a great humanitarian, and a dear friend and supporter of our catalysis community.
https://chbe.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=2147483997&blogid=102
Enrique Iglesia
President
North American Catalysis Society
Author Archives: edrick
Dr. Burt Davis has been selected for the 2014 NACS Award for Distinguished Service
Dr. Burtron H. Davis has been selected as the recipient of the 2014 NACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Catalysis. The Award is presented every two years to recognize an individual who has advanced catalytic chemistry or engineering through both significant service to the catalysis community and outstanding technical accomplishments. This award includes an honorarium ($5,000) and a plaque. It is awarded by the North American Catalysis Society and sponsored by ExxonMobil Research and Engineering and Clariant and will be presented during the 2015 NAM in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Davis is being recognized in particular for his contribution to industrial research problems with a detailed understanding of catalytic transformations. His work in isotopic labeling studies has helped obtain in depth knowledge of reaction pathways of industrially relevant processes and probing catalytic mechanisms. Specifically, Dr. Davis has focused on Fischer-Tropsch reaction mechanisms and catalytic transformations using cobalt, iron and ruthenium-based catalysts researching fundamental questions
with industry relevance. During his five decade career, Dr. Davis has co-authored more than 500 peer reviewed publications and organized numerous symposia in various areas of catalysis.
In service to the catalysis community, Dr. Davis has served the North American Catalysis Society in various capacities including organizing the 12th NAM in Lexington and serving as the Honorary Chair of the 23rd NAM in Louisville. For the past three decades Dr. Davis has functioned as a historian of the NACS and the catalysis community. His foresight, dedication and efforts to archive and record the history of the society and catalytic science has led to an unprecedented NACS hosted collection of more than 1300 videos of conference presentations and one on one interviews. This collection stands as a testament to the dedication of Burt Davis to the preservation of the history of catalysis for generations to come.
Parisian chemist wins prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Prize
Professor Michel Che, of the Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 & Institut Universitaire de France, has been named the Royal Society of Chemistry Faraday Lectureship Prize winner for 2014.
The Faraday Lectureship Prize is awarded for exceptional contributions to physical or theoretical chemistry.
Professor Che’s work has largely contributed to improve our understanding of the elementary processes involved in laboratory/industrial catalysis, and bridged the gap between homo- and heterogeneous catalysis.
His research concerns surface reactivity with emphasis on the functionalization of inorganic oxides and heterogeneous catalysis. He pioneered a molecular approach, based on transition metal complexes taken as probes, specific isotopes and physical techniques. His work has led to the emergence of interfacial coordination chemistry at the crossroads of chemistry.
Dr Robert Parker, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry said: “Each year we present Prizes and Awards to chemical scientists who have made an outstanding contribution, be that in their area of research, in industry or academia.
“We’re working to shape the future of the chemical sciences for the benefit of science and humanity and these Prizes and Awards give recognition to true excellence.
“Our winners can be very proud to follow in the footsteps of some of the most influential and important chemical scientists in history.”
An incredible 47 previous winners of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Awards have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for their pioneering work, including Harry Kroto, Fred Sanger and Linus Pauling.
Indeed, one of the 2012 Royal Society of Chemistry Prize winners, Arieh Warshel, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year.
Rewarding Excellence and Gaining Recognition
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Prizes and Awards recognise achievements by individuals, teams and organisations in advancing the chemical sciences. We want to reward those undertaking excellent work in the chemical sciences from across the world.
There are over 60 Prizes and Awards available in the main portfolio, covering all areas of the chemical sciences. So whether you work in research, business, industry or education, recognition is open to everyone.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is the world’s leading chemistry community, advancing excellence in the chemical sciences. With over 49,000 members and a knowledge business that spans the globe, we are the UK’s professional body for chemical scientists; a not-for-profit organisation with 170 years of history and an international vision of the future. We promote, support and celebrate chemistry. We work to shape the future of the chemical sciences – for the benefit of science and humanity.
More information on Royal Society of Chemistry Prizes and Awards
http://www.rsc.org/ScienceAndTechnology/Awards/2014-RSC-Prizes-Awards.asp
Professor Che is awarded “for pioneering a molecular approach to catalyst design by bridging the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis through the new field of interfacial coordination chemistry.”
Jim Dumesic has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Professor Jim Dumesic Steenbock and Michel Boudart Professor, department of chemical and biological engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Sciences news release is available at http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/april-29–2014-NAS-Election.html.
Israel E. Wachs named 5th Vanadis Award winner
Israel E. Wachs, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University, has been named the recipient of the 5th Vanadis Award. The award was presented following the award lecture by Dr. Wachs at the 8th International Vanadium Symposium (V8) held August 15–18, 2012 in Crystal City, VA. This biannual award goes to a researcher having contributed to the chemistry/biological chemistry/toxicology of vanadium. Dr. Wachs was selected for his wellstoried contributions to vanadium science and contributions to the area of metal-oxide-based catalyses.
Dr. Wachs received his undergraduate education at The City College of the City University of New York (B.E.-ChE) and continued his graduate (PhD-ChE) education at Stanford University under the mentorship of Professor Robert J. Madix, in the area of surface science. His research findings are considered the first application of surface science to heterogeneous catalysis. After graduation, he joined the Exxon Research & Engineering Company Corporate Research Labs where he was involved in development of many different catalytic technologies (selective oxidation, acid catalysis, synthetic fuel synthesis, hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrocarbon conversion). One of his inventions, i.e., the selective oxidation of o‑xylene to phthalic anhydride by vanadium oxide/titanium catalyst supports, is still the leading industrial catalyst for this technology. Dr. Wachs subsequently joined the faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department at Lehigh University. There, he established a world-class catalysis research laboratory focusing on oxide catalytic materials and their characterization under reaction conditions (in situ and operando spectroscopy). These fundamental studies established a foundation for molecular/electronic structure – activity/selectivity relationships and the molecular engineering of novel oxide catalysts. One of the emphases of Dr. Wachs’ research has been on the fundamentals and applied aspects of supported vanadium oxide heterogeneous catalysts for environmental applications (for reduction of acid gas emissions from power plants and paper mills). More recently, he has extended his research on vanadium oxide catalysis to aqueous enzyme mimics. Dr. Wachs’ scientific research accomplishments are internationally known and have received recognition by EPA, ACS, AIChE, the Humboldt Foundation, and now, the International Vanadium Symposium.
Historically, the Vanadis Award has been presented on the basis of documented contributions of a scientist to the area(s) or combinations of vanadium chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or pharmaceutical sciences. The award is specifically given to an individual who has contributed innovative research and had a impact on direction of their field(s) — in terms of development of new applications and lasting impact as testified by the service of the nominee to the overall progress, application, and exploration of new uses of vanadium in science. Candidates for the Vanadis Award can be nominated by any member of the vanadium community; the awardee is selected by an international committee of experts in the science of vanadium. Previous winners of the Vanadis Award have been Debbie C. Crans (2004), Dieter Rehder (2006), Toshikazu Hirao (2008), and Vincent L. Pecoraro (2010).
If you would like more information about this award, the 2012 award selection or the International Vanadium Symposium, please contact Debbie Crans at 970–491-7635 or Craig McLauchlan at 309–438-7019.
Southwest Catalysis Society Award for Excellence in Applied Catalysis
The Southwest Catalysis Society (SWCS) Award for Excellence in Applied Catalysis will be presented at its Spring Symposium (April 25) to Dr. Heiko Weiner, Principal R&D Chemist, Celanese. Heiko’s important work on the hydrogenation of acetic acid to ethanol and ethyl acetate has been applied commercially in 2012 and a second commercial plant is expected online soon. Heiko’s work was completed at the Celanese Clear Lake, Texas office in the SWCS region, and followed the catalyst discovery and development process from high throughput screening, optimization, scale-up and all the way through to commercialization. The award includes a $1500 cash prize as well as an invitation to present a keynote address at the 2015 SWCS Spring Symposium.
Dr. Haiying Chen is the Winner of the 2014 Herman Pines Award in Catalysis
The Catalysis Club of Chicago is pleased to announce that Dr. Haiying Chen (Johnson Matthey) is the recipient of the 2014 Herman Pines Award in Catalysis. This Award is given to recognize Dr. Chen’s significant contributions to the advancement of environment catalysis and technology. Dr. Chen’s research has led to the discovery and successful development and commercialization of (1) small pore molecular sieve supported transition metal catalysts for the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3; (2) NOx adsorber catalysts for heavy duty diesel emission control; and (3) sustainable technologies for the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from industrial processes. In addition, his research has led to the development of low temperature emission control technologies to meet future emission standards.
Dr. Chen has been invited to give lectures at various universities as well as on national and international scientific meetings. He has published 13 patents and over 50 publications. In addition, Dr. Chen has served the catalysis community in several leadership roles.
The award includes an honorarium ($1,000) and a plaque. Dr. Chen will receive this award and deliver the Award address at the Catalysis Club of Chicago Spring Symposium on May 13, 2014 at the BP Research Center in Naperville, IL.
List of past recipients of the Herman Pines Award
1999 Harold Kung (Northwestern University)
2000 John Monnier (Eastman Chemical)
2001 Lanny Schmidt (University of Minnesota)
2002 James Brazdil (BP)
2003 James Dumesic (University of Wisconsin)
2004 Alak Bhattacharyya (BP)
2005 Israel Wachs (Lehigh University)
2006 Jeffrey Miller (BP)
2007 Chunshan Song (Pennsylvania State University)
2008 Aleksey Yezerets (Cummins)
2009 Tobin Marks (Northwestern University)
2010 James Rekoske (UOP)
2011 Jingguang Chen (University Delaware)
2012 Stuart Soled (ExxonMobil)
2013 W. Nicholas Delgass (Purdue University)
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Stuart Soled and Stacey Zones elected to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering Elects 67 Members and 11 Foreign Associates
WASHINGTON (February 6, 2014) — The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has elected 67 new members and 11 foreign associates, announced NAE President C.D. (Dan) Mote Jr. today. This brings the total U.S. membership to 2,250 and the number of foreign associates to 214.
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature,” and to the “pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”
A list of the newly elected members and foreign associates follows, with their primary affiliations at the time of election and a brief statement of their principal engineering accomplishments.
New Members
- Abbott, Nicholas, John T. and Magdalen L. Sobota Professor, and director, Materials Research and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison. For innovations and applications in soft-matter surface science.
- Allcock, Harry R., Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. For development of polyphosphazenes, a new class of biomaterials.
- Allebach, Jan P., Hewlett-Packard Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. For development of algorithms for digital image half-toning for imaging and printing.
- Arvizu, Dan E., director and chief executive officer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo. For leadership in the renewable and clean energy sectors, and for promoting national balanced energy policies.
- Atkins III, Daniel E., W.K. Kellogg Professor in Community Information, School of Information; professor of electrical engineering and computer science, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. For leadership in development of radix algorithms and cybertechnical collaborative systems.
- Baker, James K., consultant; and co-founder and former chairman and chief executive officer, Dragon Systems, Maitland, Fla. For introducing hidden Markov models to speech processing and applications to commercial speech-recognition systems.
- Balser, Martin, distinguished technical fellow, Northrop Grumman Information Systems, Woodland Hills, Calif. For contributions to the U.S. Navy’s capabilities in acoustics and fluid mechanics.
- Banks, M. Katherine, vice chancellor, dean of engineering, and Harold J. Haynes Dean’s Chair Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station. For contributions to phytoremediation of petroleum contamination, and for leadership in engineering education.
- Barrett, Harrison H., Regents’ Professor of Radiology, Regents’ Professor of Optical Sciences, and Regents’ Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson. For contributions to the physical and statistical foundations and applications of radiological and nuclear medical imaging.
- Bernstein, Howard, chief scientific officer, Seventh Sense Biosystems Inc., Cambridge, Mass. For development of commercial nanotechnology products for therapeutics and diagnostics.
- Bethell, Peter J., senior process consultant, Arch Coal Inc., Scott Depot, W.Va. For contributions to advanced separation technologies for coal processing.
- Board, Mark P., corporate director of geotechnical engineering, Hecla Mining Co., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. For contributions to the design of large-scale mines based on application of advanced rock mechanics principles.
- Boroyevich, Dushan, American Electric Power Professor of Electrical Engineering, and co-director, Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. For advancements in control, modeling, and design of electronic power conversion for electric energy and transportation.
- Boston, Terry, president and chief executive officer, PJM Interconnection, Norristown, Pa. For leadership in development and operation of large electric grids and markets for wholesale electricity.
- Boulos, Paul Fares, president, chief operating officer, and chief technical officer, Innovyze, Broomfield, Colo. For contributions to theory and practice of computational hydraulics simulation technology for water infrastructure.
- Boyd, Stephen P., Samsung Professor in the School of Engineering; and professor, Information Systems Laboratory, department of electrical engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. For contributions to engineering design and analysis via convex optimization.
- Braun, Robert D., David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology, and co-director, Space Systems Design Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. For contributions to space exploration and technologies for entering planetary atmospheres from space.
- Briskman, Robert D., co-founder and technical executive, Sirius XM Radio, North Bethesda, Md. For achievements in satellite communications, culminating in Sirius XM Radio.
- Carbonell, Ruben G., Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh. For research and innovation in multiphase reactor design, high-pressure thin-film coating, and novel bioseparation processes.
- Chan, Tony F., president, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon. For numerical techniques applied to image processing and scientific computing, and for providing engineering leadership at the national and international levels.
- Cramb, Alan W., provost, senior vice president for academic affairs, and Charles and Lee Finkl Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. For contributions to development of high-integrity continuously cast steels.
- Daganzo, Carlos F., Chancellor Professor of the Graduate School, and retired Robert Horonjeff Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley. For engineering contributions to traffic, transportation, and logistics systems and operations.
- Davari, Bijan, IBM Fellow and vice president, Next Generation Computing Systems and Technology, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. For contributions to scaling of CMOS technology.
- Dietrich, Brenda L., IBM Fellow and vice president, and chief technology officer for Business Analytics Software, IBM, Somers, N.Y. For contributions to engineering algorithms, frameworks, and tools to solve complex business problems.
- Eden, J. Gary, Gilmore Family Endowed Professorship of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For development and commercialization of micro-plasma technologies and excimer lasers.
- Edgar, Thomas Flynn, George T. and Gladys H. Abell Endowed Chair in Engineering, department of chemical engineering, University of Texas, Austin. For contributions to mathematical modeling, optimization, and automatic control of chemical and microelectronics processes, and for professional leadership.
- Elghobashi, Said, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, University of California, Irvine. For contributions to understanding and modeling of multiphase turbulent flows.
- Ershaghi, Iraj, Omar B. Milligan Chair in Petroleum Engineering, and director, Petroleum Engineering Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. For contributions to characterization of complex fractured reservoirs, and for leadership in university-industry collaboration.
- Fagin, Ronald, IBM Fellow, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, Calif. For contributions to theory and practice of data management.
- Fenves, Gregory L., executive vice president and provost, University of Texas, Austin. For contributions to computational modeling, creation of open source software for earthquake engineering analysis, and academic leadership.
- Ferrara, Katherine Whittaker, distinguished professor and founding chair, department of biomedical engineering, University of California, Davis. For contributions to theory and applications of biomedical ultrasonics.
- Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Maria, Robert and Marcy Haber Endowed Professor in Energy Sustainability, Tufts University, Medford, Mass. For contributions to atomically dispersed heterogeneous metal catalysts for efficient production of fuels and chemicals.
- Halas, Naomi, Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston. For nanoscale engineering of optical resonances and lineshapes.
- Hedrick, J. Karl, James Marshall Wells Academic Chair and professor of mechanical engineering, University of California, Berkeley. For analysis and control methods for nonlinear systems with application to practical problems.
- Hedrick, James Lupton, IBM Researcher, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, Calif. For innovations in functional monomers and polymers for the microelectronics industry.
- Hopp, Wallace J., senior associate dean for faculty and research, Herrick Professor of Business, professor of technology and operations, and professor of industrial and operations engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. For creating and applying fundamental engineering principles governing the underlying behavior of manufacturing systems and supply chains.
- Joshi, Chandrashekhar Janardan, Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering, and director, Neptune Facility for Advanced Accelerator Research, University of California, Los Angeles. For contributions to development of laser- and beam-driven plasma accelerators.
- Jouppi, Norman P., distinguished hardware engineer, Google Inc., Mountain View, Calif. For contributions to the design of computer memory hierarchies.
- Joyce, David L., president and chief executive officer, GE Aviation, and senior vice president, GE, Cincinnati. For contributions in reducing emissions and fuel consumption of turbofan engines.
- Kish Jr., Frederick A., senior vice president, Optical Integrated Circuit Group, Infinera Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif. For contributions to high-brightness light-emitting diodes.
- Knatz, Geraldine, adjunct professor, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
- Krieger, Roger B., retired group manager, General Motors Research and Development, Birmingham, Mich. For contributions to engine research, advanced engine technologies in passenger vehicles, and leadership in engineering education.
- Luby, Michael, vice president of technology, QUALCOMM Inc., Berkeley, Calif. For contributions to coding theory including the inception of rateless codes.
- Michel, R. Keith, president, Webb Institute, Glen Cove, N.Y. For contributions to the design, construction, and operation of efficient, environment-friendly ships.
- Mistretta, Charles A., John R. Cameron Professor of Medical Physics and Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison. For contributions to development and application of angiographic methods in X‑ray and magnetic resonance imaging.
- Moehle, Jack P., T.Y. and Margaret Lin Professor of Engineering, department of civil and environmental engineering, University of California, Berkeley. For contributions to earthquake-resistant design and analysis of building structures, and for leadership in engineering education.
- Mohan, Ned, Oscar A. Schott Professor of Power Electronics and Systems, department of electrical and computer engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. For contributions to the integration of electronics into power systems and to innovations in power engineering education.
- Mullen, Michael Glenn, retired admiral, U.S. Navy, Annapolis, Md. For applying engineering methods in developing and executing offensive and defensive strategies for the U.S. Navy.
- Novosel, Damir, president, Quanta Technology LLC, Raleigh, N.C. For innovations and business leadership in the security and reliability of electric power grids.
- Patt, Yale N., professor of electrical and computer engineering, Ernest Cockrell Jr. Centennial Chair in Engineering, and university distinguished teaching professor, University of Texas, Austin. For contributions to high-performance microprocessor architecture.
- Pawlikowski, Ellen M., commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, and program executive officer for space, U.S. Air Force, Los Angeles AFB, Los Angeles. For leadership in the development of technologies for national security programs including spacecraft operations and the Airborne Laser.
- Pentland, Alex (Sandy), Toshiba Professor of Media, Arts, and Sciences; and director, Human Dynamics Laboratory and Media Lab Entrepreneurship Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. For contributions to computer vision and technologies for measuring human social behavior.
- Pharr IV, George M., Chancellor’s Professor and McKamey Professor of Engineering, department of materials science and engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For development of methods for determining mechanical properties of materials by nanoindentation.
- Philip, Craig E., chief executive officer, Ingram Barge Co., Nashville, Tenn. For contributions in information technology and management innovation in the intermodal, rail, and inland waterway industries.
- Ramsey, J. Michael, Minnie N. Goldby Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, and director, Center for Biomedical Microtechnologies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. For development of microfluidic technologies for analytical applications.
- Rexford, Jennifer, Gordon Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering, department of computer science, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. For contributions to the operational stability of large computer networks.
- Riley, James J., PACCAR Professor of Engineering, department of mechanical engineering, University of Washington, Seattle. For contributions in analysis, modeling, and computations of transitioning and turbulent phenomena.
- Schapire, Robert E., David M. Siegel ’83 Professor, department of computer science, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. For contributions to machine learning through invention and development of boosting algorithms.
- Schutz, Bob E., Joe J. King Chair in Engineering and FSX Professorship in Space Applications and Exploration, University of Texas, Austin. For contribution to the use of Satellite Laser Ranging and Global Positioning System tracking to study earth system dynamics.
- Soled, Stuart L., distinguished research associate, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co., Annandale, N.J. For discovery and commercialization of new materials with significant environmental and economic benefits to society.
- Spencer, David Bruce, founder, chairman, and chief technology officer, wTe Corp., Bedford, Mass. For invention and entrepreneurship in materials manufacturing and recycling.
- Stafford, Thomas P., retired, U.S. Air Force; and consultant, Satellite Beach, Fla. For leadership in the development of rendezvous and docking technologies for the Apollo and Apollo/Soyuz programs.
- Stedinger, Jery R., professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. For statistical methods for flood risk assessment and optimizational methods for hydropower system management.
- Tzeghai, Ghebre E., global research and development director, Procter & Gamble Co., Mason, Ohio. For contributions to world health through the development and commercialization of dental care and personal hygiene products.
- Waitz, Ian A., dean of engineering and Jerome C. Hunsaker Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. For analysis of environmental effects of aviation enabling practical environmental regulations.
- Willson Jr., Alan N., distinguished professor and Charles P. Reames Chair in Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles. For contributions to the theory and applications of digital signal processing.
- Zones, Stacey I., consulting scientist, Chevron Energy Technology Co., Richmond, Calif. For contributions to molecular sieve catalysts used in commercial applications.
New Foreign Associates
- Bimberg, Dieter, executive director, Center of NanoPhotonics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany. For innovations in nanomaterials, nanophysics, and nanodevices.
- Ciminelli, Virginia S.T., professor, department of metallurgical and materials engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. For contributions in environmental hydrometallurgy, and for leadership in national and international technical collaborations.
- Fleck, Norman Andrew, professor of mechanics of materials, and director, Cambridge Centre for Micromechanics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K. For experimental and theoretical contributions to mechanical engineering of solids and structures.
- Gany, Alon, professor emeritus, Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa. For advances in the development of solid propellants for rockets and scramjets.
- Harel, David, William Sussman Professor of Mathematics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. For invention of statecharts and contributions to the logic of programming.
- Mehlhorn, Kurt, director, Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Saarbruecken, Germany. For contributions to algorithm design and the development of the LEDA software library.
- Poulos, Harry G., senior principal, Coffey Geotechnics Pty Ltd., Cove West, New South Wales, Australia. For contributions to understanding foundation structure and ground support interactions.
- Romankiw, Lubomyr T., IBM Fellow, IBM, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. For innovation of thin-film magnetic head structures and electrochemical process technologies for microelectronics device fabrication.
- Samarasekera, Indira Vasanti, president and vice chancellor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. For mechanistic understanding of steel casting processes for improved productivity.
- Shoham, Moshe, Tamara and Harry Handelsman Professor, department of mechanical engineering, and head, Robotics Laboratory, Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa. For contributions to robotic technology for image-guided surgery.
- Zhang, Xingdong, professor and honorary director, National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. For contributions to musculoskeletal medical therapies and biomaterial product development.
Contacts:
Randy Atkins, Senior Media Relations Officer
(202) 334‑1508
atkins@nae.edu
Kim Garcia, Membership Elections Manager
(202) 334‑2195
kgarcia@nae.edu
Dr. Paul Barger is the recipient of the 2014 F.G. Ciapetta Lectureship in Catalysis
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Barger of UOP LLC, a Honeywell Company, is the recipient of the F.G. Ciapetta Lectureship in Catalysis, sponsored by the Grace Catalysts Technologies operating segment of W.R. Grace & Co. and the North American Catalysis Society. The Award consists of a plaque and an honorarium. The plaque will be presented during the closing banquet ceremonies at the 2015 NAM in Pittsburgh, PA. The recipient will present lectures at most of the affiliated Clubs/Societies during the two-year period covered by this Lectureship.
The Award is given in recognition of substantial contributions to one or more areas in the field of catalysis with emphasis on industrially significant catalysts and catalytic processes and the discovery of new catalytic reactions and systems of potential industrial importance.
Paul Barger has an established track record of championing new ideas and moving them effectively from evaluation, to catalyst development, and to commercialization. Over his thirty year career at UOP he has contributed to the discovery of catalytic phenomena and development of several catalytic processes of industrial significance. He has achieved this by sound technical insight, careful experimental design, and flawless execution as evidenced by the award of more than 55 U.S. patents.
Paul is specifically recognized with the F.G Ciapetta Lectureship for his contributions to the development of the Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process from concept development to commercial offering. He was a leader of the joint MTO development effort between UOP and Norsk Hydro. A series of discoveries of SAPO-34 structure-function relationships, such as the correlations of product shape selectivity, hydride transfer and coking with acid site density and crystal morphology were keys in the development of this technology. The first of four UOP-licensed commercial units was successfully started up in September 2013. Paul has also led the development and commercialization of two naphtha reforming catalysts and a solid acid detergent alkylation catalyst and currently heads up UOP’s Proof-of-Principle Lab for the evaluation of ideas for new technology opportunities.
I am delighted that the North American Catalysis Society has chosen to recognize the contributions of Dr. Paul Barger with this lectureship. I speak with the voice of our grateful community in also thanking the management of W.R. Grace& Co. for its continuing support of this lectureship.
Enrique Iglesia
President, North American Catalysis Society
Herman Pines Award in Catalysis
Sponsored by UOP and the Catalysis Club of Chicago
The Award will be presented at the 2014 Catalysis Club of Chicago Spring Symposium and consists of a plaque, a cash award of $1,000 and reimbursement for travel and lodging as a plenary speaker at the Spring Symposium.
The nominee must meet the following criteria:
- Great achievements of catalysis research in the past five years.
- For the year of 2014, the award will be given to an industrial researcher.
- Active member in catalysis community.
- A resident of North America.
Deadline for nomination is January 31, 2014. Nomination should describe the specific work for which the nominee should be recognized. Complete curriculum vitae with letters of support for the nominee must be included in the nomination, together with the description of work. Letters of nomination and supporting documentation must be sent by January 31, 2014 as a single PDF document to:
Neng Guo
President – The Catalysis Club of Chicago (2013–2014)
BP Products North America Inc.
Naperville, IL 60565
neng.guo@bp.com
List of past award recipients of the Herman Pines Award:
- 1999 Prof. Harold Kung – Northwestern University
- 2000 Dr. John Monnier – Eastman Chemical Company
- 2001 Prof. Lanny Schmidt – University of Minnesota
- 2002 Dr. James Brazdil – BP
- 2003 Prof. James Dumesic – University of Wisconsin
- 2004 Dr. Alak Bhattacharyya – BP
- 2005 Prof. Israel Wachs – Lehigh University
- 2006 Dr. Jeff Miller – BP
- 2007 Prof. Chunshan Song – Pennsylvania State University
- 2008 Dr. Aleksey Yezerets – Cummins Inc.
- 2009 Prof. Tobin Marks – Northwestern University
- 2010 Dr. James Rekoske – UOP
- 2011 Prof. Jingguang Chen – University of Delaware
- 2012 Dr. Stuart Soled — ExxonMobil
- 2013 Prof. W. Nicholas Delgass – Purdue University