Each year our section presents the Harry and Carol Mosher Award to recognize a chemist for their contributions and outstanding work in chemistry, for advancing chemistry as a profession, and for service to ACS. The 2022 award will be presented to Professor Richard “Dick” Zare of Stanford University on February 24. Professor Zare is eminently qualified for this award. As can been seen from his biographic statement provided elsewhere in this newsletter, he has had a long career as an innovative chemist and as a mentor for many younger chemists. Professor Zare’s technical contributions have been recognized by many organizations including the Wolf Prize (2005), the Priestley Medal (2010), and most recently, the 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry for fundamental studies of the dynamics of chemical reactions, including the development of techniques to observe molecules as they react.
Professor Zare will give a short presentation of his experiences as a chemist, focusing on the changes he has seen over the years as a Professor of Chemistry at Stanford. His talk will be preceded by a networking reception. We have decided to offer “heavy hors d’oeuvres” instead of dinner, following the tradition established by ACS at the National meetings. The rising cost of events that include full dinners puts them out of reach for many attendees, even with ACS subsidies and using Stanford facilities. Please join us for this fun and interesting evening. Registrations are required and can be made using the Eventbrite link provided in this newsletter.
The Silicon Valley ACS local section gives a number of additional awards each year. The Harry and Carol Mosher Award, established in 1980, is our most prestigious. It is named for the late Drs. Harry S. Mosher of Stanford University and Carol W. Mosher of SRI International, charter members and long-time supporters of the ACS and this section as well as celebrated organic chemists. The award consists of an engraved plaque and a check for $2000.
The other awards given by the section are:
- The Radding Award which recognizes leadership, service, and significant contributions to industrial, applied, or academic chemistry, and to ACS at the local, regional, and national levels
- The Ottenberg Award which recognizes outstanding service to the Silicon Valley section
- The Teacher-Scholar Award which recognizes excellence in teaching and mentoring at a community college.
The various awards and the nomination requirements are outlined on our website (https://www.siliconvalleyacs.org/awards-funding/). Please review them and consider nominating your colleagues. This is one of the best mechanisms we have to reward and celebrate those who work so hard to advance chemistry as a profession and the ACS.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie McClure
