CORVALLIS, Ore. — Geraldine (Geri) Richmond, a professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon, is being honored as the 2019 winner of the Linus Pauling Legacy Award sponsored by the Oregon State University Libraries and Press. Richmond is a Presidential Chair in Science at UO and a chemistry professor.
The award recognizes outstanding achievement in a subject of interest to Pauling, the scientist, peace activist, two-time Nobel laureate and OSU graduate. Several previous recipients were Nobel Prize winners. Richmond is the 10th winner of the award.
As part of the celebration marking the award, Richmond will deliver a free public lecture at 7 p.m., May 22 at OSU’s Valley Library in the fourth floor Rotunda. The lecture’s title is “The Importance of Global Scientific Engagement.”
“I was speechless — which is rare for me — when I got the call and was told that I had won the Linus Pauling Legacy Award,” Richmond said. “I kept saying ‘Wait, can you say that again?’ Linus Pauling is really my Oregon role model, with his amazing contributions to both science and humanity. I am truly honored and look forward to coming up to Oregon State for the award ceremony and seeing his collection at the library.”
Richard Van Breemen, director of the Linus Pauling Institute at OSU said, "Geraldine Richmond’s research on surface chemistry has applications in energy production, environmental remediation and atmospheric chemistry that can impact human health."
Richmond’s research using laser spectroscopy and computational methods focuses on understanding environmentally and technologically important processes that occur at liquid surfaces. Richmond is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has served in leadership roles on many international, national and state governing and advisory boards. She is currently serving as a member of the National Science Board, as the U.S. Science Envoy to the Lower Mekong River Countries and as Secretary of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is recent past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is the incoming president of the Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society. Richmond is the founding director of COACh, a grass-roots organization formed in 1998 that has helped more than 20,000 women scientists and engineers in career advancement in the U.S. and in developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Pauling is an OSU graduate and the only recipient of two unshared Nobel Prizes: one for chemistry and another for his antinuclear and peace activism. The papers of Pauling and his wife, Ava Helen Pauling, are held by OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center. The Linus Pauling Institute at OSU continues to pursue Pauling’s interest in the study of micronutrients and phytochemicals in diet and health.
Richmond’s lecture in Corvallis is wheelchair accessible. Individuals requiring other accommodations related to a disability should contact Don Frier at 541-737-4633 or [email protected] by May 15 so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
The OSU Libraries enhance and support the university’s instructional and research programs with traditional and innovative services and collections. More info is at osulibrary.oregonstate.edu.
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Daniel Moret, 541-737-4412
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