by Mary Jane Shultz
Since 1932 the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society has been honoring a member of the Society for “conspicuous achievement in any area of chemistry” with the Richards Medal. Theodore Richards was the first American Nobel prize winner. Previous winners who have gone on to win the Nobel prize include: G. N. Lewis, Linus Pauling, Robert Woodward, Robert Mulliken – and more recently, Barry Sharpless, and Rudy Marcus. The 2017 medal was presented in 2018 to Professor Chad A. Mirkin of Northwestern University. The 2019 selection was suspended due to COVID. We are looking forward to a 90th anniversary ceremony – tentatively scheduled for March 10, 2022 at Harvard.
It should be stressed that in the 88-year history with 45 awards, only once has the award gone to a woman. As a member of the WCC, I encourage you to catalyze nomination of an outstanding woman for this award!