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Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis: John E. Bercaw
by Linda Wang
January 2, 2017
| A version of this story appeared in
Volume 95, Issue 1
Sponsor: Gabor A. & Judith K. Somorjai Endowment Fund
Citation: For the elucidation of detailed mechanisms of organometallic reactions that comprise catalytic cycles.
Current position: Centennial Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology
Education: B.S., chemistry, North Carolina State University; Ph.D., chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Bercaw on his scientific role model: “Harry Gray is one of my scientific role models. In addition to watching with amazement his scientific accomplishments, I have marveled at his enthusiasm, modesty, generosity, and love of interacting with students. He is truly a great man.”
What his colleagues say: “Bercaw has made path-breaking contributions to developing and elucidating new homogenous catalytic reactions. His fundamental work in olefin polymerization catalysis and catalytic alkane oxidation is without equal.”—Maurice Brookhart, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Awards
- 2017 ACS national award winners
- ACS Award in Separations Science & Technology: Rakesh Agrawal
- ACS Award in Applied Polymer Science: Zhenan Bao
- Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis: John E. Bercaw
- Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry: Bruce J. Berne
- Charles Lathrop Parsons Award: John I. Brauman
- Glenn T. Seaborg Award for Nuclear Chemistry: David L. Clark
- Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society: D. Richard Cobb
- E. B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medicinally Active Substances: Stanley T. Crooke
- ACS Award in Organometallic Chemistry: Marcetta Y. Darensbourg
- Ronald Breslow Award for Achievement in Biomimetic Chemistry: Benjamin G. Davis
- ACS Award in Pure Chemistry and the National Fresenius Award: Neal K. Devaraj
- ACS Award for Team Innovation: Robert A. DeVries, Philip Garrou, Carol E. Mohler, Theodore M. (Ted) Stokich Jr., and Eric S. Moyer
- ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry: Peter J. Dunn
- F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry: Pingyun Feng
- Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal: Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts
- ACS Award in Surface Chemistry: Cynthia M. Friend
- ACS Award in Industrial Chemistry: Jane Frommer
- Elias J. Corey Award for Outstanding Original Contribution in Organic Synthesis by a Young Investigator: Neil K. Garg
- George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry: Robert H. Grubbs
- Nakanishi Prize: Martin Gruebele
- James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public: Thomas A. Hager
- Harry Gray Award for Creative Work in Inorganic Chemistry by a Young Investigator: Nilay Hazari
- ACS Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution: Maria R. Hepel
- George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education: Thomas A. Holme
- ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry: Donald F. Hunt
- ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences: Judith M. Iriarte-Gross
- Alfred Bader Award in Bioinorganic or Bioorganic Chemistry: Kim D. Janda
- ACS Award in Chromatography: Robert T. Kennedy
- ACS Award in the Chemistry of Materials: Douglas A. Keszler
- ACS Award in Colloid Chemistry: Nicholas A. Kotov
- Ahmed Zewail Award in Ultrafast Science & Technology: Stephen R. Leone
- Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry: Junqi Li (student) and Martin D. Burke (preceptor)
- Herbert C. Brown Award for Creative Research in Synthetic Methods: Bruce H. Lipshutz
- Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management: Laurie E. Locascio
- Ernest Guenther Award in the Chemistry of Natural Products: Stephen F. Martin
- ACS Award for Computers in Chemical & Pharmaceutical Research: Yvonne C. Martin
- ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences: Saundra Y. McGuire
- James Flack Norris Award in Physical Organic Chemistry: Robert A. Moss
- ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry: Murugappan Muthukumar
- E. Bright Wilson Award in Spectroscopy: David J. Nesbitt
- E. V. Murphree Award in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry: Eleftherios Terry Papoutsakis
- ACS Award in Theoretical Chemistry: Peter Pulay
- ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Lawrence Que Jr.
- ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry: Matthew S. Sigman
- ACS Award for Creative Invention: Richard B. Silverman
- James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching: Laura E. Slocum
- ACS Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry: Antonio Togni
- ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry: William B. Tolman
- Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in the Theoretical & Experimental Chemistry of Liquids: Salvatore Torquato
- ACS Award for Achievement in Research for the Teaching & Learning of Chemistry: Marcy H. Towns
- Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success: David R. Walt
- ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science & Technology: Douglas R. Worsnop
- Frank H. Field & Joe L. Franklin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Mass Spectrometry: Vicki H. Wysocki
- Roger Adams Award in Organic Chemistry: Hisashi Yamamoto
- All Awards
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