George Whitesides

George Whitesides is the Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University Professor at Harvard University. He was a member of the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1963 to 1982. He joined the Department of Chemistry at Harvard in 1982 and served as department chairman from 1986 to 1989. From 1982 to 2004, Whitesides was the Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry at Harvard.

Best known for his work in areas including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, organometallic chemistry, molecular self-assembly, and nanotechnology, Whitesides’ current research interests include physical and organic chemistry, materials science, biophysics, complexity, and the origin of life. According to Whitesides, the primary objective of his work is to fundamentally change the paradigm of science.

Whitesides is active in numerous public service roles. He has served on advisory committees for the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Defense. He has also served on the National Research Council in various capacities since 1984, including roles with the Committee on Science and Technology for Counter Terrorism and the Committee on Nanotechnology for the Intelligence Community.

Author of more than 950 scientific articles, Whitesides is also listed as an inventor on more than 50 patents. Thomson ISI ranked Whitesides fifth on the 1,000 most-cited chemists from 1981 to 1997. Among many awards and honors, he received the National Medal of Science in 1998, the Kyoto Prize in Materials Science and Engineering in 2003, and the Welch Award in Chemistry in 2005. Whitesides is the 2007 American Chemical Society Priestley Medal recipient.

Whitesides is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received an A.B. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

The medal is presented annually and cosponsored by CHF and four affiliated organizations: the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the Chemists’ Club, and the Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section). The medal commemorates Donald Othmer (1904–1995), noted researcher, consultant, editor, engineer, inventor, philanthropist, professor, and coeditor of the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology.

CHF gratefully acknowledges John Wiley & Sons, Inc., for donating a set of the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology each year to the institution chosen by the Othmer Gold Medal recipient.


About the Sponsors

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the world’s largest scientific organization. The society was established in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1937 to encourage in the broadest and most liberal manner the advancement of chemistry in all its branches

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is a professional, technical, and educational association. The institute was founded in 1908 and is dedicated to promoting excellence in the development and practice of chemical engineering in an ever-expanding array of disciplines

The Chemists' Club, established in 1898, is one of the oldest and most respected chemical organizations in the country. Members are engaged in management, marketing, processing, and research and development.

THE Société de Chimie Industrielle, American Section, is the U.S. branch of the Paris-based international organization founded in 1918. The Société's mission is to aid and encourage the use of scientific and engineering developments by the industry and offer solutions to current and long-term management and government issues of global concern.

The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) fosters an understanding of chemistry’s impact on society. An independent nonprofit organization, we strive to

• Inspire a passion for chemistry;
• Highlight chemistry’s role in meeting current social challenges; and
• Preserve the story of chemistry across centuries.

CHF maintains major collections of instruments, fine art, photographs, papers, and books. We host conferences and lectures, support research, offer fellowships, and produce educational materials. Our museum and public programs explore subjects ranging from alchemy to nanotechnology.