GOOD CHEMISTRY
First the American Chemical Society, then the president. Chemistry professor Richard Zare's summer already was headlined by his selection as the Priestley Medalist for 2010 by the American Chemical Society when he also was named one of the recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
The Priestley Medal, named for oxygen discoverer Joseph Priestley, is the society's highest honor. Professor Gerald Diebold of Brown University said of Zare, a postdoctoral colleague in the 1970s, "There is hardly anyone else, worldwide, who can lay claim to having contributed more to the field of physical chemistry, who has excelled in teaching, and who has been so active in service to the field of chemistry."
The Presidential Award, which honors individuals who mentor minority students, is presented at a White House ceremony and includes $10,000 to further the recipient's mentoring work.
