The Gold Bulletin editorial commemorating Dr. David T. Thompson is available at http://www.goldbulletin.org/assets/file/goldbulletin/downloads/editorial_4_42.pdf
Author Archives: edrick
Gary McVicker has passed away
Gary B. McVicker passed away on January 22, 2010 surrounded by friends and family. The catalysis community has lost one of its leaders and the North American Catalysis Society one of his loyal and thoughtful supporters. An obituary will appear here shortly.
Details are included in the local obituary: Hunterdon County’s weekly paper
Professor Nicholas Delgass is the recipient of the NACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Catalysis
Professor W. Nicholas Delgass (Department of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University) is the recipient of the inaugural NACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Catalysis. This Award will be 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. The award includes an honorarium ($5,000) and a plaque. The latter will be presented at the closing banquet during the 2011 NAM in Detroit.
The career of Professor Delgass, over its four decades, exemplifies this combination of pioneering contributions to the science of catalysis, dedication and rigor in the education of scientists and engineers, and service to others in the advancement of catalysis. His research achievements include the synthesis of novel catalytic materials, the development of modern spectroscopic methods for catalyst characterization, and the use of rigorous kinetic and spectroscopic methods to elucidate the mechanism of complex catalytic reactions on solids. He is leading a team that is developing and implementing model-based approaches for the design and efficient optimization of new catalysts. Professor Delgass has been a remarkably gifted and dedicated teacher, both in the classroom and in the research laboratory. He has been recognized with the most prestigious teaching honors on the Purdue campus. In his service to students and peers as Associate Head of the School of Chemical Engineering, he has shown a true commitment to mentor and educate the next generation of chemical engineers. His passion for mentoring graduate students and young faculty was recognized with the inaugural College of Engineering Mentoring Excellence Award. Many among our catalysis community, in academia and in industry, have been touched by his thoughtful advice. For many years, he was the zealous guardian and gentle steward of the archives of our discipline, as Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Catalysis. He has dedicated his time and efforts to the organization of the 11th International Congress on Catalysis and of numerous symposia at AIChE, ACS and Catalysis Society meetings. It is a fitting gesture of thanks that our community has chosen to recognize the scholarship and dedication of Professor Delgass with this inaugural award for service.
Prof. Anders Holmen is the recipient of the 2010 Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion
Professor Anders Holmen (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) has been chosen as the recipient of the 2010 Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion. The Award is presented every three years during the International Natural Gas Conversion Symposium to recognize enduring and significant contributions to the science and technology for the conversion of natural gas to valuable products. The previous award recipients are Jack Lunsford, Jens Rostrup-Nielsen, Lanny Schmidt, Enrique Iglesia, and David Trimm.
Professor Holmen is being recognized for his achievements in advancing concepts and practical applications of direct and indirect routes for the efficient utilization of natural gas. He has contributed fundamental concepts for the conversion of methane to acetylene in high-temperature short-contact time reactors. His research group has developed and used methods for measuring the dynamics of carbon formation during methane reactions at conditions relevant to industrial practice and for the elucidation of the kinetics and mechanism of partial oxidation of light alkanes. Throughout his career, Professor Holmen has contributed to our understanding and practice of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, specifically by unraveling the complex effects of water on reaction rate and selectivity and the role of Co crystallite size and of supports on catalyst reactivity and stability.
The award consists of a plaque and a monetary prize, which will presented at the 9th Natural Gas Conversion Symposium (NGCS) to be held in Lyon, France (May 30-June 3, 2010). Professor Holmen will also present the Award Plenary Lecture during this meeting.
The selection committee for this Award consists of previous awardees together with several members of the NGCS International Advisory Board. Nominations are considered from a broad cross-section of academic and industrial members of the natural gas conversion community.
ORCS Award Winners
The Organic Reactions Catalysis Society is pleased to announce its award winners, who will be honored at the 23rd ORCS Conference March 14–18, 2010 in Monterey, CA USA.
Dr. Hans-Ulrich Blaser of Solvias AG has been selected as the 2009 Paul Rylander Awardee for excellence in catalysis, notably for important developments in chemoselective and stereoselective hydrogenations, including the the synthesis of (S)- metachlor.
Prof. Matthias Beller of Leibniz Institute for Catalysis has been selected as the 2010 Paul Rylander Awardee for excellence in catalysis based on his significant contributions developing and applying novel homogeneous catalysts to organic synthesis. His work on Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling, reductive carbonylation and hydroaminomethylation, to name a few, have opened new concepts in the construction of complex organic molecules.
Dr. Steve Schmidt of W.R. Grace & Co. has been selected as the 2010 Murray Raney Awardee for advancements in the technology of activated base metal catalysts. His work on the development of platinum group metal promoted Raney® catalysts was notable for elucidating fundamental properties and also in identifying commercially relevant applications.
Prof. Robert Augustine, Emeritus Seton Hall University is the 2010 Russell Malz Awardee for distinguished service to the Organic Reactions Catalysis Society. Prof. Augustine was part of the founding group establishing ORCS, played a significant role in governance of the Society serving 20+ years on the Board and as the Chair of the 1986 conference.
More information about ORCS and its 23rd Conference March 14–18, 2010 can be found at our website, www.orcs.org.
A note from your incoming President
I am honored by this opportunity to serve our community and in awe of the challenges and opportunities that it presents.
I speak with the grateful voice of our community in acknowledging the dedication and contributions of the outgoing officers: John Armor and Umit Ozkan and of the continuing officers John Byrne and Edrick Morales. I also welcome Bruce Cook, Hong-Xin Li, and C.Y. Chen as new officers and thank them for their commitment to serve.
The youth, vigor, and quality evident at our 21st NAM in San Francisco served to confirm the intellectual and financial health of our discipline and of the North American Catalysis Society. Catalysis continues to serve as the enabling discipline in energy supply and conversion, in the synthesis of fuels and chemicals, and in our thoughtful care for the environment; it remains an essential contributor to quality of life and to sustainable growth in the world at large. As a discipline, its visibility and its support research base continue to grow, fueled by a combination of intellectual advances, new concepts and tools, evolving societal needs, and a consistent track record of practical impact.
The Society remains in excellent financial health. Its long-standing commitment to serve the community remains firmly entrenched within our very active local clubs and their dedicated leaders and members and amongst their counterparts in the national organization. We are committed to continue to return to our members the benefits of their dedication by growing our support for new generations of researchers and ideas, so that they enter safely and choose to stay. To balance novelty with history, we intend to expand our initiatives to preserve and proclaim our heritage and, in doing so, to recognize the contributions of the intellectual forces that shaped the concepts and tools upon which we build our future as a catalysis discipline.
We encourage your comments and suggestions, as well as your involvement in all activities and initiatives of the Society. You can always reach me via email at iglesia@berkeley.edu.
Enrique Iglesia
President, North American Catalysis Society
Berkeley, CA
20 October 2009
Nominations open for Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion — Deadline is November 1, 2009
The Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion is sponsored by the Natural Gas Conversion Board and its International Scientific Advisory Committee. The award has been presented just 5 times in the past twenty years, and recognizes individuals who — in the eyes of their peers — have made noteworthy contributions in the field of natural gas conversion and the development of technologies that are likely to play an important part in meeting the world’s chemical and fuel requirements in the years ahead.
Please visit the award web page at ngbc.kma.net/index.asp?sid=54 for additional information and the nomination process.
Gordon Conference on Catalysis – Program Announcement
The 2010 GRC on Catalysis will be held at Colby Sawyer College, NH from June 27, 2010 through July 2, 2010. The meeting chair is Abhaya Datye (datye@unm.edu) from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM and the Vice-chair is Bruce Cook (Bruce.Cook2@bp.com) from BP Products NA in Naperville, IL.
In 2010, the Catalysis conference will move to a newly-furbished conference room with seating for 150, a new poster session area that will allow 40 posters per session. The dorm rooms provide single and double accommodations, free WIFI and the registration fee includes all meals and the famous lobster dinner on Thursday night. Afternoons are open to enjoy the New England ambiance with opportunities for hiking, sailing, golf and tennis to create an outstanding conference that will help you network with colleagues, and make long lasting connections. Please visit the conference web site for more details and to register for the meeting: www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2010&program=catalysis.
The 2010 GRC on Catalysis will focus on several areas that are of both fundamental and practical importance. The underlying theme is to highlight the role of catalysis in meeting society’s needs for energy and materials. The conference is organized into 9 sessions:
- Alternative Feedstocks For Chemicals And Fuels
- Novel Catalytic Materials
- 3D Imaging Of Catalysts
- Spectroscopy, With Special Emphasis On Heterogeneous Catalysis In The Liquid Phase
- Molecular Insights Through Theory
- The Science Of Catalyst Synthesis
- Design Of Catalysts For Exceptional Stability
- Surface Science
- Future Perspectives On Catalysis
The themes and the speakers have been chosen to interweave academic and industrial interest, as has been the very effective tradition of this long running conference, and to illustrate broad, forefront concepts in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. By including senior scientists as discussion leaders, we hope to add a diversity of perspective and enhance the level of discussions. A special effort was made to attract speakers and discussion leaders from industry. Financial support will be available for graduate students, post-docs and junior faculty. Please visit the NACS website in February 2010 for more details.
Nominations open for Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Catalysis (Deadline: November 24, 2009)
The Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Catalysis is sponsored by the North American Catalysis Society. It is awarded biennially in even numbered years. The Award consists of a plaque, an honorarium of $5,000, and partial support ($1000) for travel to the meeting where the award is presented. The Award will be presented for the first time at the 2011 North American Meeting of the Catalysis Society.
The Award recognizes an individual who has advanced catalytic chemistry or engineering through a combination of significant service to the catalysis community and technical accomplishments. Service may include teaching, mentoring, editorial, and organizational activities, as well as leadership in the organization of conferences and workshops. These activities must have benefited specifically the North American catalysis community and more generally the field at large.
Selection of the awardee will be made without regard to age, sex, nationality, or affiliation. The nomination must contain a critical evaluation of the significance of candidate’s achievements and a specific statement about the service and technical contributions on which the nomination is based. Nomination documents (short summary statement of the contributions (300 words); curriculum vitae; one nominating letter and no more than two letters of support) must be sent as a single electronic PDF file to the President of the Society (Enrique Iglesia; iglesia@berkeley.edu) . Nominations for the 2010 Award for Distinguished Service will close on November 24, 2009. Receipt of the nomination will be acknowledged by return email within 48 hours.
Nominations open for Ciapetta Lectureship in Catalysis (Deadline: November 10, 2009)
The F.G. Ciapetta Lectureship in Catalysis is sponsored by the Davison Chemical Division of W.R. Grace & Company and The North American Catalysis Society. The Society administers this Lectureship. It is awarded biennially in even numbered years. The Award consists of a plaque and an honorarium of $5,000. Travel expenses are provided (through a travel escrow fund administered by the NACS) in those unusual instances when such expenses represent a burden that the company or institution where the contributions were made cannot reasonably assume.
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 on the discovery of new catalytic reactions and systems of potential industrial importance. The recipient will be selected on the basis of accomplishments demonstrated through contributions to the catalytic literature and of the currency of these achievements. The recipient is expected to present his work at most of the affiliated Clubs/Societies during a period of two years after the recipient is announced.
Selection of the awardee will be made without regard to age, sex, nationality, or affiliation. The nomination must contain a critical evaluation of the significance of candidate’s qualifications and a specific statement about the contribution(s) on which the nomination is based. Nomination documents (short summary statement of the contributions (300 words); curriculum vitae; one nominating letter and no more than two letters of support) must be sent as a single electronic PDF file to the President of the Society (Enrique Iglesia; iglesia@berkeley.edu). Nominations for the 2010 Ciapetta Award will close on November 10, 2009. Receipt of the nomination will be acknowledged by return email within 48 hours.